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diff --git a/21449.txt b/21449.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8dcf731 --- /dev/null +++ b/21449.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10180 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of With Axe and Rifle, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: With Axe and Rifle + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Illustrator: H. Meyer + +Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21449] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH AXE AND RIFLE *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +With Axe and Rifle; or The Western Pioneers, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +With great skill and sincerity Kingston depicts many of the struggles +and efforts that the would-be settlers in the West had to make. +Constant harrying by Red Indians, the weather, nasty neighbours, +illness, all made life difficult, indeed almost impossible. + +The book is told through the eyes of a boy, as he grows to adulthood. +His family, also Mr Tidey, who acted as family tutor, or Dominie, and +Dio, a runaway slave to whom they give a home, form the principal actors +in this tale, but there are many others, such as the wicked Bracher, and +a mysterious hunter who appears several times in the book in the guise +of a rescuer. + +Well into the last chapter we are presented with all sorts of dreadful +happenings, which the hero feels to be like the imagined happenings of a +bad dream. But suddenly it all sorts out and we have an unexpectedly +happy conclusion to the tale. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +WITH AXE AND RIFLE; OR THE WESTERN PIONEERS, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +CAPTAIN LORAINE'S FARM IN THE FAR WEST--HOT-HEADED YOUNG MEN--OUR +FAMILY--UNCLE DENIS TAKEN SICK--WE SET OUT TO VISIT HIM--THE CORDUROY +ROAD--A WAYSIDE HOTEL--ROUGH COMPANY--APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY-- +CROSSING THE FORD AT GREEN RIVER--NEARLY LOST--A BRAVE NEGRO--GRATITUDE +OF MY PARENTS--AT MR. SILAS BRACHER'S PLANTATION--DIOGENES--MAMMY COE-- +THE SLAVE-OWNER--MY FATHER ENDEAVOURS TO PURCHASE THE NEGRO--SLAVERY-- +UNEXPECTED RECOVERY OF DR. O'DOWD'S PATIENT--A SPORTSMAN'S AMBITION-- +TRAPPING--A RICH PRIZE--SOMETHING ABOUT TURKEYS--THE WONDERFUL CAVE OF +KENTUCKY--OUR RETURN TO ILLINOIS. + +Some time after the termination of the long war which England had waged +in the cause of liberty when well-nigh all the world was up in arms +against her, my father, Captain Patrick Loraine, having served for many +years as a subaltern, believing that he should no longer find employment +for his sword, sold out of the army, and with the proceeds of his +commission in his pocket, quitting the old country, came to the United +States in the hopes of making his fortune more rapidly than he could +expect to do at home. + +Finding that as a British officer he was looked upon with distrust in +the Eastern States, he made his way westward until he finally located +himself in Illinois on a fertile spot, sheltered on the north by a wide +extent of forest, and overlooking that part of the river Ohio which +separates the state from Kentucky. I remember even now the appearance +of the country. On the eastern side was a range of hills of slight +elevation, on one of which our house stood, while westward stretched +away as far as the eye could reach, a vast plain, with the mighty +Mississippi beyond. The scenery could boast of no great beauty except +such as lofty trees, the prairie, with its varied tints of green and +brown, yellow cornfields, rich meadows in the valleys, and the shining +river in the distance, canopied by the blue vault of heaven, could give +it. Still, it was my home, and as such I should have loved it, had it +possessed even less pretensions to beauty. + +So well satisfied was my father with the country that he returned to +Ireland to bring back a young lady who had promised to become his wife. +Two or three years afterwards I was born, and was succeeded by my +brother Dan, and finally by my dear little sister Kathleen. My mother, +whose maiden name was O'Dwyer, was, I should have said, accompanied by +her two brothers, Michael and Denis, who came out with the intention of +assisting my father, and ultimately settling near him, but they were +hot-headed young men, and before even they reached the farm they had a +quarrel which resulted in their separation. Denis finally settled in +Kentucky, while Michael, with a rifle on his shoulder and axe in his +belt, saying that he should turn trapper, pushed away further west, and +from that day to the time I am about to describe we had received no +tidings from him. Uncle Denis became a successful settler. He was soon +reconciled to my father, and occasionally paid us a visit, but preferred +remaining in the location he had chosen to coming near us, as he had +originally intended. He had remained a bachelor, not a very usual state +of life for an Irishman; but, somehow or other he had not met the girl +he "wished to marry," as he used to say. He was, notwithstanding, a +merry, good-natured, kind-hearted man, and I remember that we always +enjoyed his brief visits whenever he rode over on his fast-trotting cob +to see us. Uncle Denis had not come for some time, when my father +received a message from a doctor who was attending him, stating that if +his sister wished to see him alive, she must come over immediately. My +mother did not hesitate a moment, and my father agreed to drive her over +in the waggon. I was to accompany them. Preparations were at once made +for our departure, and as the Shawanees, long the foes of the white man +in those regions, had buried the war-hatchet, and were not likely to +come that way, the rest of the children were left without any +apprehensions of danger, under the charge of our old black nurse, Rose. + +The waggon was a long, light vehicle, with little or no iron-work about +it, having benches across, and rails on either side. It had four wheels +of equal size, and was drawn by a couple of horses harnessed to a pole; +owing to the height and position of the two front wheels, we could not +turn without making a long sweep. + +My father sat on the box to drive. My mother and I occupied the front +bench, and behind was stowed our luggage, provisions for the journey, +and various other articles, Although I was very young at the time, I +have nevertheless a clear recollection of some of the incidents of the +journey. + +Descending by a thickly wooded valley to the level of the Ohio, we +crossed that river in a large ferry-boat, which conveyed our horses and +waggon at the same time, while my mother and I sat in the vehicle and my +father stood at the head of the animals to keep them quiet. The stream +carried us down for some distance, and I remember my mother holding me +tight in her arms, and looking with terrified glances at the water as it +whirled by, apparently about to sweep the lumbering boat far down below +the point the rowers were endeavouring to gain. They exerted +themselves, however, to the utmost. The boat's head was turned partly +up the stream, and an eddy taking her, we at length reached the +landing-place. My father then mounting the box, with voice and whip +urged the horses up the steep bank, and once more the waggon rolled over +tolerably even ground. + +The country through which we passed was in those days almost in a state +of nature, with the exception of the high road traversing the State from +one end to the other. The first part lay across the "Barrens," a wild +region, where the soil being inferior in fertility to that of the +uplands, it was destitute of inhabitants. To the south extended a level +prairie covered with long grass, with here and there groves of oak, +chestnut, and elm. To the north the country appeared more undulating, +clothed with a far greater variety of trees; hickory, black walnut, +cherry, as well as magnificent oak and elm. + +"I hope we shall not have another river to cross like that," observed my +mother, after keeping silence for some time, while she was endeavouring +to recover from her alarm. + +"Not so broad a one, Kate," answered my father, "but there are several +streams which we must manage to get over either by fords or ferry-boats, +for I doubt whether we shall find any bridges as yet put up to drive +over, though they will come in good time, I have no doubt. We run no +danger just now, and I don't suppose that we shall have the least +difficulty in crossing any stream in our way." + +As we drove along we occasionally started a herd of deer feeding on the +rich grass in the forest-glades. Hares in abundance crossed our path, +and a fox slunk by, casting a suspicious glance at us, as he ran out of +sight into a bush. Towards evening, as we were hoping soon to reach a +log hut in which we could pass the night, our ears were assailed by a +long, low howl. + +"Where can that come from?" exclaimed my mother. + +"Possibly from a wolf; but I'll give a good account of the brute if he +makes his appearance," answered my father; "hand me out my rifle." + +My mother gave him the weapon, and he placed it by his side ready for +use. He had also a brace of pistols stuck in his belt, so that he was +prepared for an encounter either with wolves, bears, or any hostile +Indians who might have ventured thus far eastward. + +At last we found ourselves rumbling over a corduroy road, a sign that we +were approaching human habitations. It was composed of the trunks of +large trees, placed close together across the path, over a swampy place +into which the wheels of carriages would otherwise have been imbedded. +The interstices had originally been filled in with earth, clay, or chips +of wood, but in many parts the small stuff had sunk through, so that the +waggon moved on over a succession of ridges, on which it seemed a wonder +that the horses could keep their legs, and that we could escape being +jerked out. Sometimes a trunk, rotted by the wet, had given way and +left a gap, to avoid which it required my father's utmost skill in +driving. Occasionally, with all his care, he could not find a space +wide enough to enable the wheels to pass. On such occasions, lashing +his horses into a gallop, he made the waggon bound over it, crying out, +as he came to the spot-- + +"Hold fast, Kate; don't let Mike be hove overboard." + +The waggon was strong, and stood the jolting better than my poor mother +did. She, however, bore all the bumping, jolting, and rolling with +perfect good humour, knowing well that my father would spare her as much +of it as he possibly could. + +Darkness found us still on the road, although my father could still see +his way between the tall trees. Scarcely had the sun set than we again +heard that ominous howl, followed by sharp yelps. + +"Oh! the wolves, the wolves!" cried my mother. + +"Never fear," said my father, "they are arrant cowards, and there are no +large packs hereabouts to do us harm." + +The thought, however, that they might follow us, alarmed my mother, and +she kept me close to her side, looking out anxiously behind, expecting +every instant to see a hungry pack coming up in chase of us. My father, +perhaps, was not quite easy on the subject; he kept shouting out, and in +spite of the roughness of the road, made the horses go at a faster pace +than before. + +"Hurrah! I see a light ahead," he shouted at last; "that's the log hut +we were told of; and even if the wolves do come, we shall be safe from +them in a few minutes, for they will not approach a human habitation." + +On we jolted; I could distinguish a clearing on the side where the light +appeared, it grew brighter and stronger, and presently my father pulled +up in front of a good-sized building, composed of huge logs placed one +above another, with the doors and windows sawn out of them, and roofed +with shingles, which are thin broad slabs of wood, split from the trunks +of large trees. + +"Can you afford us shelter for the night, friend?" said my father to a +man, who, hearing the sound of wheels, came outside the door. + +"Ay, and a welcome too, such as we give to all strangers who have money +or money's worth to pay for their lodging, and I guess you've got that." + +"Yes, I am ready to pay for our board and lodging, but I could not tell +in the dark whether or not this was a house of entertainment." + +"I guess it's the finest hotel you'll find between the Ohio and +Harrodsburg," answered the man. + +"All right," said my father; "I'll see my wife and child, as well as our +goods, safe inside; then we'll take the horses and waggon round to the +stables." + +Saying this he helped my mother and me to the ground. We entered a +large room with a huge cooking-stove at one end, and a long table down +the middle, flanked by benches. A middle-aged woman, with three +strapping girls, her daughters, advanced to meet us, and conducted my +mother and me up to the stove, that we might warm ourselves; for as it +was early in the year, the evening had set in cold. Our hostess talked +away at a rapid rate, giving us all the news of the country, and +inquiring what information we could afford her in return. + +We found that we were still nearly another day's journey from Green +River, after crossing which it would take us the best part of a third +day to get to my uncle's location. Three or four other travellers came +in, armed with bowie-knives, and pistols in their belts, each carrying a +long gun, which he placed against the wall. A black man and a girl +appeared, to serve at table, and we heard several others chattering +outside, reminding us that we were in a slave-state. On my father's +return he took his seat by my mother's side, and talked away to prevent +me hearing the conversation which was going on between the other +travellers at the further end of the table, which showed they were as +rough in their manners as in their appearance. However, they did not +otherwise interfere with us. + +At an early hour my father begged to be shown a room. + +"I guess it's not a very big one," answered our hostess; "but you and +your wife won't mind a trifle like that. There's a bunk in the corner, +in which your young one can stow himself away." + +I remember the dismay with which I saw the bunk spoken of. It was in +reality a huge chest with the top propped up, but I tumbled into it +notwithstanding, and was soon fast asleep. At daybreak the next +morning, after a substantial breakfast, in which fried eggs and Johnny +cake formed an important item, we again started off over the same sort +of corduroy road as on the previous evening. On either side were +numerous clearings with log huts, and here and there a more pretentious +store, before each of which several persons were seen taking their +morning drams. My father was an abstemious man, and although invited to +stop and liquor, declined doing so. We drove on as fast as the horses +could go, as he was anxious to cross the river early in the day. The +weather had hitherto been fine, but it now looked threatening, though as +the day advanced the clouds blew off. My father told my mother that he +hoped we should escape the storm. + +About mid-day we stopped at another log shanty, similar to the one at +which we had rested for the night, in order to bate the horses. We +afterwards passed through several forests of considerable size, with +more open wild land covered with low bushes, where the rocky soil +afforded no depth for larger vegetation. + +The country improved as we approached Green River, growing tobacco, +Indian corn, flax, and buck-wheat, while the numerous parties of blacks +we saw at work on plantations showed that the country was more thickly +populated than any we had hitherto passed through. From information my +father gained, he understood that we should cross Green River by a ford +without difficulty. + +"The river is pretty broad about there, and the shallow is not very +wide; so, stranger, you must keep direct for the landing-place, which +you will see on the opposite side. Better drive up than down the +stream, but better still to keep straight across," added his informant. + +"Oh, Patrick, must you positively cross that wide extent of water?" +exclaimed my mother as we reached the bank and she surveyed the broad +river flowing by. + +"There are marks of wheels on this side, and I make out an easy +landing-place on the other," answered my father. + +Having surveyed the ford, my father without hesitation drove in, telling +my mother not to be afraid, as he did not suppose that the water would +reach above the axles. + +The stream as it flowed by, bubbled and hissed between the wheels, +making me quite giddy to look at it. The water grew deeper and deeper +until it reached the axles; then in a little time on looking down I saw +it bubbling up through the bottom of the waggon. + +My father did not turn his head, but keeping his eyes steadily fixed on +the landing-place, urged on the horses. They had not got more than +half-way over when they began to plunge in a manner which threatened to +break the harness. Again my father shouted and applied his whip over +their backs; the animals seemed every instant as if about to lose their +legs, while the water not only bubbled up through the bottom, but +completely flowed over it. To turn round was impossible, not only from +the construction of the waggon, but from the pressure of water, and in +all probability had the attempt been made an overturn would have been +the consequence. + +My mother suppressed her fears, but grasped me tighter than ever. +Presently I heard a dull roar, and looking up the river I saw a +white-crested wave--so it appeared--curling down upon us. My father saw +it too. He leapt from the waggon into the water, which reached almost +up to his shoulders, and seizing the horses' heads, endeavoured to drag +them forward. Every instant the current became stronger and deeper and +deeper. At last it seemed as if the waggon must inevitably be swept +away down the stream. Just then I heard a shout from the shore, where I +saw a black man running rapidly towards us. Without stopping a moment +he rushed into the water, wading as far as the depth would allow him, +then he struck out swimming, and quickly reached the horses' heads. + +"Here, massa stranger, nebber fear, dis boy help you," he exclaimed, and +seizing the bridle of one of the animals he pointed to a spot, a little +lower down the bank. My father, being taller than the negro, was still +able, though with difficulty, to keep his feet, and grasping the bridle +of the other horse, he followed the advice he had received. Before, +however, we had gone far, the wave was upon us. The next instant the +waggon was lifted up and jerked violently round. I had until then been +holding on, but how it happened I cannot tell, for I felt myself +suddenly thrown into the water. I heard my mother's shriek of frantic +despair, and my father shouted to her to hold on for her life, while he +dragged forward the horses, whose feet almost the next moment must have +touched the firm ground. + +"Me save him!" cried the black, "go on, massa stranger, go on, all safe +now," and the brave fellow, relinquishing his hold of the horse, which +he left to my father's guidance, swam off to where I was struggling in +the seething water. With one arm he seized me round the waist, and +keeping my head above the surface, struck out once more towards the +bank. His feet fortunately soon regained the ground, and wading on +while he pressed with all his might against the current, he carried me +safely in his arms to the bank. Having placed me on the grass, he +hastened back to assist my father in dragging up the waggon. + +My mother, as may be supposed, had all the time been watching me with +unspeakable anxiety, forgetting the danger in which she herself was +placed. As the banks sloped very gradually, the horses, by a slight +effort, contrived to drag the waggon up to the level ground. + +"Blessings rest on your head, my brave man!" exclaimed my mother, +addressing the black who had saved me, as she got out of the waggon and +rushed to where I lay; then kneeling down, she gazed anxiously into my +face. + +I had suffered less I believe from immersion than from fear, for I had +not for a moment lost my consciousness, nor had I swallowed much water. + +"Berry glad to save de little boy, him all right now," answered the +black. + +"Yes, I believe I'm all right now. Thank you, thank you," I said, +getting up. + +My mother threw her arms round my neck and burst into tears. + +My father wrung the hand of the black, who had hurried back to help him +rearrange the harness of the horses. "You have saved the lives of us +all, my gallant friend; I thank you from my heart, and should wish to +show you my gratitude by any means in my power." + +"Oh, massa, him one poor black slave," answered the negro, astonished at +being so spoken to by a white man; "him berry glad to save de little +boy. Now, massa, you all berry wet, want get dry clo' or catch cold an' +die ob de fever." + +"Indeed I am most anxious to get my wife and child under the shelter of +some roof;" answered my father. "Can you guide us to the nearest house +where we can obtain what we require?" + +The black thought a moment, and then answered-- + +"De plantation where I slave not far off; Massa Bracher not at home-- +better 'way perhaps, he not always in berry good temper, but de +housekeeper, Mammy Coe, she take care ob de lady and de little boy. +Yes, we will go dare dough de oberseer make me back feel de lash 'cos I +go back without carry de message I was sent on. It can wait, no great +ting." + +I do not believe that my father heard the last remark of the black, as +he was engaged in replacing some of the articles in the waggon which had +escaped being washed out, for he answered-- + +"Yes, by all means, we will drive on to Mr Bracher's plantation. It's +not very far off, I hope, for the sooner we can get on dry clothing the +better." + +My father, as he helped in my mother, and placed me in her arms, threw +his own coat, wet as it was, over me, as it served to keep off the wind +and was better than nothing. + +"What's your name, my good fellow?" he asked of the black. + +"Me Diogenes, massa, but de folks call me `Dio'." + +"Well, jump in, Dio, and tell me the way I am to drive." + +"Straight on den, Massa," said Dio, climbing in at the hinder part of +the waggon, "den turn to de right, and den to de lef', and we are at +Massa Bracher's." + +My father drove on as fast as the horses could go, for although the +weather was tolerably warm, my teeth were chattering with cold and +fright, and he was anxious, wet as we were, not to expose my mother and +me to the night air. By following Dio's directions, in less than ten +minutes we reached a house of more pretensions than any we had yet seen. +It was of one story, and raised on a sort of platform above the ground +with a broad veranda in front. Behind it was a kitchen-garden, and +plantations of tobacco, and fields of corn on either side. Dio, jumping +out, ran to the horses' heads, and advised my mother to go first, taking +me with her, and to introduce herself to Mammy Coe. + +"Yes, go, Kathleen," said my father, "the good woman will certainly not +turn us away, although from what Dio says, she may not receive us very +courteously." + +The door stood open; as we ascended the wooden steps, two huge +blood-hounds rushed out, barking furiously, but Dio's voice kept them +from molesting us. The noise they made served to summon "Mammy Coe," a +brown lady of mature age, a degree or two removed from a negress, +dressed, as I thought, in very gay colours, with a handkerchief of +bright hue bound round her head, forming a sort of turban. + +"Who you strangers, whar you come from?" she asked in an authoritative +tone, as if accustomed to command. + +My mother, in a few words, explained what had happened. "We should be +thankful to you to allow us to have our clothes dried," she added. + +"Yas, strangers, me will gib you dat permission," answered Mammy Coe; +"come 'long dis way. Your man too, him want change him clo'," she said, +looking out and perceiving my father standing on the steps, still +dripping wet. "Dio," she shouted, "take de horses round to de stable +and bring in de strangers' tings." + +Dio promptly obeyed, glad, I am very sure, that his kind intentions had +thus far been successful. + +"Come 'long, young woman, and bring de boy. You shall hab supper +afterwards, den go to bed, you all right to-morrow." + +She led the way to a bed-room on one side of the entrance-hall, where my +mother quickly stripped off my wet clothes and wrapped me up in a +blanket. + +"Him better for some broth!" observed Mammy Coe in a kinder tone than +she had yet used. "Now, young woman, you go to me room, and me give you +some dry clothes, while your man, him go into Massa Bracher's room." + +My father, however, first came and had a look at me and almost the +minute afterwards I was fast asleep. When I awoke I saw a person +standing near me, dressed so exactly like Mammy Coe, that at first I +thought it was her, but I quickly discovered that she was my mother. +She had brought me my clothes perfectly dry. I was very glad to put +them on and accompany her to supper in the great hall, where several not +very pleasant-looking personages were seated at a long table, with Mammy +Coe at the head of it. The people appeared to me much alike, with +sallow faces, long hair, untrimmed beards, and bowie-knives stuck in +their belts. I remember remarking that they gobbled down their food +voraciously, and put a number of questions to my father, which he +answered in his usual calm way. + +Supper was nearly over when the barking of dogs announced another +arrival. Soon afterwards a tall man wearing a broad-brimmed hat entered +the room, and nodding to the other persons, threw his whip into the +corner and took the seat which Mammy Coe vacated. He stared at my +mother and me. My father rose, concluding that he was the host, and +explained how he happened to be his guest, while Mammy Coe stood by +ready to answer any questions if required. My father narrated our +adventures, stating that we were on our way to visit my mother's +brother, who was supposed to be at the point of death. + +"I know Denis O'Dwyer, I guess. He was down with the fever I heard, but +whether he's gone or not I can't say. Some pull through and some don't. +If you find him alive it's a wonder. However, make yourself at home +here, and to-morrow you may start on your journey," observed our host. + +My father thanked him, and remarked how much he was indebted to his +slave Dio. + +"The boy's good property, I guess," answered Mr Bracher, but not a word +did he say of the black's gallant conduct, and only laughed scornfully +when my father alluded to it. + +Our host spoke but little during the remainder of the time we sat at +table, being employed as zealously as his overseers and clerks had been +in devouring his food. My father then again reverted to Dio, and +observed that he was anxious to make a suitable return to the black for +the brave way in which he had risked his life in preserving ours. + +"He is my property and you may thank me, but I don't want thanks and I +don't want a recompense, though I should have lost well-nigh five +hundred dollars if he had been drowned." + +"Will you take five hundred dollars for the boy?" asked my father +feeling sure that unless he could obtain the slave, he should have no +means of rewarding him. + +"No, stranger, I guess I won't," answered Mr Bracher, putting a quid, +which he had been working into form, into his mouth; "I don't want +money, and I wouldn't take a thousand dollars for the black if I did: so +you have your answer." + +My father saw that it would not do farther to press the subject. As +soon as he properly could, he begged that my mother and I might be +allowed to retire. + +"This is liberty hall, and your wife can do as she likes, and so can +you. I shall turn in myself before long, as I have had a pretty smart +ride." + +On this my mother rose, and I had to return to my bunk, in which I was +soon fast asleep. Next morning I remember looking out of the window +just at daybreak and seeing a party of negroes mustered before being +despatched to their respective labours. Two white overseers, dressed in +broad-brimmed hats and gingham jackets, stood by with whips in their +hands, giving directions to the slaves, and at the same time bestowing +not a few lashes on their backs, if they did not at once comprehend what +was said to them. Among them I caught sight of Dio. One of the +overseers addressed him, and seemed to be putting questions to which +satisfactory answers were not given. To my horror down came the lash on +Dio's back, cut after cut being given with all the strength of the white +man's arm. + +"O father, father, they are beating Dio. Do go out and stop the cruel +man," I exclaimed. My father looked on for a moment, and then hurried +out to the front of the house. I followed him, but Dio had disappeared +and the overseer was walking along whistling in the direction one party +of the blacks had taken. + +"The poor fellow would only be worse treated were I to speak for him," +said my father stopping short; "but it is terrible that human beings +should thus be tyrannised over by their fellow-creatures. It may not be +against man's laws, but it is against God's law, I am very certain. The +sooner we are away from this the better, but I should like to see poor +Dio before we go, and again thank him for the service he has rendered +us." + +We went round to the stables, where we found Dio, who was grooming the +horses. My father, finding that no one else was present, put several +dollars into his hand. + +"That's no return, my friend, for the brave way in which you risked your +life to save ours," he said; "but I have nothing else except my bare +thanks to give you. You must remember, however, that I wish always to +remain your friend, and if I have the power, to repay you in a more +substantial manner." + +"Dis black boy no want any reward," answered Dio, offering to return the +money. + +My father, however, pressed it on him, and without much difficulty +induced him to keep it. As soon as breakfast was over, the horses were +brought round. I believe that my mother made a present to Mammy Coe of +the gayest article of dress she possessed, which she guessed would be +far more welcome than money. + +Our host treated us with but scant courtesy as we took our departure. + +"Just tell Denis O'Dwyer, if you find him alive, that you saw me, and +that I hope to liquor up with him next time I go his way." + +My father thanked him for his hospitality, but he made no reply, and +turning on his heel, re-entered his house. We found Dio, who had run +on, waiting for us out of sight of the house. He waved his hand, but +said nothing. + +Eager to reach Uncle Denis's farm, my father drove on as fast as the +horses could trot over the rough track. We had to endure the same +amount of bumping and jolting as on the previous day. My poor mother's +anxiety increased as we approached my uncle's farm. We met with no one +who could give us any information. Since the fearful danger we had been +in, she had become much more nervous than was her wont, and consequently +could not help expecting to hear the worst. Great was her joy, +therefore, when, on driving up to the door, who should we see but Uncle +Denis himself seated in the porch, smoking a cigar. + +"I'm glad to see you, sister," he said, "but Doctor O'Dowd had no +business to frighten you. He is always so accustomed to kill his +patients that he fancies they are all going to die under his hand, and +faith, it's no fault of his if they get well." + +My uncle's appearance, however, showed that he had gone through a severe +illness. He was still too weak to walk without assistance, but his +indomitable spirit, my father observed, had done much to keep him up; +our coming also was of great assistance, as my mother was able to nurse +him more carefully than were his usual black attendants. We remained +with him for several days, at the end of which time he was able to mount +his horse and take a gallop with my father in the early morning. Uncle +Denis was one of the kindest-hearted men I ever met, and generally one +of the merriest; but a shade of melancholy came over him occasionally. +It was when he thought of Uncle Michael, or of that "dear fellow, Mike," +as he used to say. He believed himself to have been in the wrong, and +to have been the cause of his brother's leaving him, without taking an +opportunity of acknowledging that such was the case, and asking for his +forgiveness. + +My father and mother of course described to Uncle Denis the narrow +escape we had had in crossing the river, and the somewhat doubtful style +of hospitality with which we had been received by Mr Bracher. + +"He knows you, Denis," said my father. + +"And I know him," answered my uncle; "a more surly curmudgeon does not +exist in these parts, or a harder master to his slaves. He is a man +people wish to stand well with, not because they love him, but because +they fear his vengeance should they offend him. I make a point of +keeping out of his way, for fear that he should pick a quarrel with me, +though he pretends to be friendly enough when we meet. The slaves hate +him, as well they may, but the lash keeps them in order, and he has a +set of fellows about him of his own kidney, who serve him because no one +else would willingly employ them." + +This no very flattering account of our late host made my father +determine not to pay him another visit, if he could help it, on our +return. + +"I'll follow your example and keep out of his way," observed my father, +"though I should have been glad to make another attempt to purchase his +slave Dio, for the sake of getting the brave fellow out of his power." + +"The more desirous you appear to obtain the slave the less likely will +he be to part with him, so I would advise you not to allude again to the +subject," said my uncle. "I'll keep an eye on his proceedings, and, +should he at any time suffer losses and be obliged to sell up, I'll take +means to buy Dio, not letting his master know that you want to become +his owner." + +With this arrangement my father was obliged to rest satisfied, as he saw +that there was no other chance of getting Dio out of the power of his +tyrannical master. + +A few days after this conversation Uncle Denis was so far recovered, +that my father announced his intention of returning home. + +"Stay a few days longer; don't think of going yet," answered Uncle +Denis; "it seems but yesterday that you came, and I shall feel more +lonely than ever when you are gone; besides, you haven't seen the great +wonder of our part of the country, nor have I forsooth, and I should +like to pay it a visit with you." + +"Of what wonder do you speak?" asked my father. + +"Sure, of the big caves we have deep down in the earth, a few miles only +from this. It is said there are mountains, rivers and lakes within +them, and I don't know what besides." + +"Oceans, forests, and valleys, perhaps," said my father, laughing, and +scarcely crediting the account my uncle gave him; for at that time the +wonderful Mammoth Caves of Kentucky were unknown to the world in +general, although the native Indians might have been acquainted with +them, and some time before, a mine of saltpetre at the entrance had been +discovered. My mother, more to please Uncle Denis than from any +expected pleasure to herself; agreed to accompany him, and to my great +delight, they promised to take me. + +We were to perform the trip in two or three days, and Uncle Denis said +that in the meantime he would try and find means of amusing us. We went +all over the farm, on which he grew tobacco, maize, and other cereals. +He was a great sportsman, besides which he had a fancy for trapping +birds and animals, and taming them, when he could. In this he was +wonderfully successful; he had a large menagerie of the feathered tribe +as well as numbers of four-footed beasts which he had trapped and +contrived to domesticate. His ambition was to tame a panther, a bear, +and a wolf; but as yet he had not succeeded in taking any of them young +enough, as he said, to be taught good manners. + +"Perhaps if you had a lady to help you, you would be more successful," +observed my mother, "like Orpheus of old, who charmed the savage beasts. +She would with her voice produce a greater effect on their wild natures +than any man can do." + +"I'll think about it," said Uncle Denis, looking up and laughing. + +My mother's great wish was to see Uncle Denis married happily, though +where to find a wife to suit him, or, as she would have said, "good +enough for him," was the difficulty. There were no lack of excellent +girls in Kentucky, daughters of settlers, but they could seldom boast of +much education or refinement of manners, and Uncle Denis was a gentleman +in every sense of the word; at the same time that he had as much spirit +and daring as any Kentuckian born. + +It must be understood of course, that at the time I speak of, I was too +young to understand these matters, but I heard of them afterwards from +my mother, and am thus able to introduce them in their proper place in +my history. + +Uncle Denis took great delight in showing us his various traps and +snares, as well as other means he employed for capturing birds or +animals. + +The traps had been greatly neglected during his illness. I remember +being especially delighted with what he called his "pens," which he had +erected for the capture of wild turkeys, with which the neighbouring +woods abounded. The two first we came to contained birds lately caught; +the third was empty, and the fourth had been broken into by a hungry +wolf, which had carried off the captive. + +"There is another I built the day before I was taken ill, further away +in the forest. No one but myself knows of it," observed Uncle Denis; +"we'll pay a visit to it, though I am much afraid if a bird has been +caught, it must have starved to death by this time." + +The pens Uncle Denis was speaking of were simple structures formed like +a huge cage by poles stuck in the ground sufficiently close together to +prevent a bird from getting out. They were roofed over by boughs and +leaves, and were without doors or windows. It will then be asked, how +can a bird get in? The trap is entered in this way. + +A passage or trench is cut in the ground twelve or fourteen feet in +length, passing under the wall of the hut and rising again in its +centre. Inside the wall and over the trench, a bridge is thrown. To +induce the bird to enter, grain is strewn along the trench and scattered +about its neighbourhood, while a larger quantity is placed on the floor +inside the hut. The unwary turkey, on seeing the grains of corn, picks +them up, and not suspecting treachery follows the train until it finds +itself inside the pen; instead however of endeavouring to escape by the +way it entered, it, like other wild birds, runs round and round the +walls of the hut, peeping through the interstices and endeavouring to +force its way out, each time crossing over the bridge without attempting +to escape by the only practicable outlet. In this way Uncle Denis said +that he had caught numbers of birds, one and all having acted in the +same foolish manner. + +"Hereabouts is my forest pen," he said. "Hark! I hear some curious +clucking sounds. There's more than one bird there, or I am much +mistaken." Stepping forward he peered over the branches, when he +beckoned us to advance, and, he lifting me in his arms, I saw not only a +hen turkey in the pen, but a brood of a dozen or more turkey poults +running in and out among the bars, while the hen was evidently calling +to them, suspecting that danger was near. + +They were too young to fly up into the trees, which they do on being +alarmed, when scarcely more than a fortnight old. Uncle Denis was +highly pleased. + +"I shall have a fine addition to the poultry-yard," he said, "for I +shall tame all these young ones by cutting their wings, and they will +not be able to follow their mother into the woods, so for their sake she +will probably be content to share their captivity." + +Peter, a black boy, had accompanied us, and Uncle Denis sent him back +for a couple of baskets. The turkey hen, though much alarmed, having +gathered her poults under her wings, stood ready to defend them bravely. +Uncle Denis said that she had probably got into the pen directly after +he had last seen it, and he recollected having left inside a quantity of +corn, with which he was going to bait some other pens in the +neighbourhood. This had served to keep her alive, unless perhaps her +faithful mate had brought her food. If such was the case, the +"gobbler," as the male bird is called, took good care to keep out of our +way. Wild turkeys in those days abounded through the whole of the +southern states. I have often seen--of course I speak of a subsequent +time of my life--ten or a dozen hen turkeys, with their families +amounting to eighty or a hundred head, on their annual migration, old +and young moving in the same direction, making use of their legs in +preference to their wings, unless when intercepted by a river, or +frightened by the appearance of a hunter and his dogs. On reaching a +river they climb to some neighbouring height, where they remain for a +day or two to consult apparently as to the best means of getting across: +on such occasions the males making a loud gobbling noise, strutting +about looking very important, as if about to perform some heroic action. +At last, when they have settled their plan, the birds of all ages mount +to the tops of the highest trees bordering the stream. There they sit +for a short time, when their leader gives a loud "cluck." It is the +signal to commence the adventurous passage. Together they expand their +wings and rise in the air; the stronger birds will thus cross a river a +mile wide, but some of the younger ones find it impossible to sustain +themselves so long in the air, and fall flop into the water. Serious as +this misadventure may appear, being birds of spirit, they do not give up +the attempt in despair. Closing their wings, they spread out their +broad tails, and strike away with their feet towards the bank they +desire to reach. Should they find, as is sometimes the case, that the +bank is too steep for landing, they cease their exertions and allow +themselves to float down the stream until they reach an accessible part, +when by violent efforts they manage to scramble up the banks and regain +the main body. On such occasions, should any of their human or other +enemies be on the watch for them, they are easily taken, as they are too +much exhausted to fly away and have not regained their shore legs. On +landing also they do not appear at first to know what direction to take, +and are seen rambling about, sometimes up the stream, sometimes down it, +or making an uncertain run inland. Of all the birds of America, the +turkey deserves the pre-eminence: the plumage, a golden bronze, banded +with black, and shot with violet, green, and blue, is beautiful in the +extreme. We had scarcely done admiring our captive, when Peter returned +with two large baskets, into one of which the hen turkey was trundled in +spite of the fierce use she made of her beak and claws, while her brood, +who were too much bewildered to run away, were caught and secured in the +other. We returned home with our unwilling captives. Uncle Denis at +once had a pen put up, and in a few days the young turkeys appeared +perfectly reconciled to their lot, and Uncle Denis succeeded in +domesticating them: as for the old hen, one day early in the following +spring, a loud "gobbling" being heard in the distance, she, leaping up +on a pailing, spread her wings and flew away in the direction from +whence the sounds came. Her brood, then more than half-grown, would +have followed her example, but their wings were cut, and down they +toppled on their backs, greatly to the amusement of Peter, as Uncle +Denis afterwards told us. + +The day for our excursion to the wonderful Cave arrived, and having +breakfasted by candle-light, we set off before sunrise in a waggon, +attended by Peter and Caesar, another black boy, on horseback. Uncle +Denis drove, and it needed an expert whip to get along the rough road. +On coming to the farm, we had been bumped and jolted enough to dislocate +our limbs, had we not had some soft cushions to sit upon. We were now +tumbled about in a fashion which threatened to upset the waggon. Uncle +Denis shouted out-- + +"Never fear, the machine is accustomed to it, and will go over places +ten times as bad as this is. Hold fast though, in case of accidents." + +Sometimes we crossed what might have been called, in compliment, a piece +of corduroy, though it looked more as if trees had been blown down by a +hurricane in close ranks. On other occasions we had to twist and turn +in and out among the stumps, and fly over big holes, the well-trained +horses keeping their feet in the most wonderful manner. At last we +reached a hut, where in subsequent years a fine hotel was built. As we +pulled up before it, a tall Indian appeared and, asking if we wished to +see the cavern, volunteered to act as our guide. + +"You're the man we want," answered Uncle Denis. + +On this the Indian, retiring to his hut, returned with a bundle of +torches. We had brought a couple of lanterns and a supply of candles, +so that there was no chance of our being left in darkness. + +The two negro boys having taken charge of our horses, we proceeded on +foot, followed by Peter and Caesar, to the mouth of the pit down which +we were to descend into the cavern. This was like a large well into +which a stream fell with a cheerful splash. I remember asking not +unnaturally whether we should have to swim when we got to the bottom. + +We made our way down a flight of wooden steps, when, passing under a +high archway, we proceeded along a level road to what were called the +"vats," where saltpetre was manufactured. + +The torches lighted up the subterranean region in which we found +ourselves. As to describing it exactly is more than I can pretend to +do. From the large entrance-hall we made our way through a low narrow +passage, which is known as the Valley of Humility, into another hall of +enormous extent, the roof so lofty that our torches scarcely illuminated +either the walls or roof. At our feet we could see the glitter of water +extending far away into the interior, while a bright stream flowed over +a rocky bed into it. Uncle Denis proposed that we should sit down and +refresh ourselves preparatory to exploring the interior recesses of the +cavern. No objection being made, Peter produced some provisions from a +basket he had brought on his back. Having discussed them, we slaked our +thirst from the pure water of the rivulet. Once more moving on, in a +short time we reached Echo River, on the shore of which we found a boat. +Our guide invited us to embark. Looking upwards it appeared as if a +canopy of black clouds hung over our heads, while on every side we could +see precipices and cliffs rising up, apparently into the sky; silence +and darkness reigned around us, the smooth sluggish water alone +reflecting the glare of our torches. Not a word was uttered by any of +our party, until the Indian's voice suddenly burst forth into one of the +melancholy chants of his race, echoed as it appeared by the spirit of +his departed brethren. I clung to my father's arm, and asked where all +those sounds came from. + +"They are but the echoes of the Indian's voice," he answered. Now they +rose, now they fell, as he gave forth the notes with the full force of +his lungs, or warbled softly, sometimes finishing with a melancholy wail +which produced the most mournful effect. + +"Come, this is more than I bargained for," exclaimed Uncle Denis; "now +stand by for a different kind of sound. Don't be alarmed, it's only the +barrel of my pistol going to try what sort of noise it can make." He +pulled the trigger, when there was a flash and then there came a +succession of crashing, thundering sounds echoed from every angle in +those enormous vaults. Backwards and forwards tore the sounds, rolling +and reverberating from wall to wall with terrific crashes. Half a dozen +pieces of artillery fired in the open air could not have produced a more +tremendous uproar. + +Scarcely had the sounds died away, when Peter and Caesar struck up a +merry negro melody, contrasting curiously with the melancholy notes of +the Indian's song; they made Uncle Denis and me, at all events, burst in +to hearty fits of laughter. + +"Come, I like that style of song far better than the music of our +red-skin friend," exclaimed my uncle. The guide told us that although +it was perfectly safe at most times of the year to traverse the cavern, +there were occasions when the waters rising suddenly had prevented the +return of explorers, but that a way had been discovered, through a +narrow passage, the course evidently at one time of a stream, up which +they could climb over the mud and save themselves from being either +drowned or starved, should they have come without provisions. This +passage has appropriately been called "Purgatory," but as we had not to +take advantage of it, I cannot describe it more fully. + +Leaving "Echo" River we entered another cavern named "Cleveland's +Cabinet," when we found ourselves in what we might have taken for a +fairy region. + +Above our heads and on either side, the roof and walls were adorned with +delicate flowers of snowy whiteness, and domes, and turrets, and spires, +and shrubs, and trees, as well as the forms of birds and beasts of all +descriptions; elephants and camels, eagles and turkeys and doves; indeed +figures of every shape which imagination without any great exertion +might please to picture. The representations of some indeed were so +perfect that it was difficult to believe that they had not been carved +by the hand of man, and yet one and all were produced by the dripping of +water from the gypsum rock; the most delicate ice formations could not +surpass them; indeed many equalled in form the choicest flowers growing +in the most cultivated garden. As we proceeded on, we found that the +cavern was not destitute of inhabitants. Huge crickets and spiders, +almost of a white colour, crawled over the ground, the former not taking +jumps, but moving steadily forward with their long legs. Rats too, +Uncle Denis declared they were as big as leverets, ran by us, exhibiting +their sharp teeth and extensive tails. When no other provisions are to +be obtained, they live apparently on the spiders and crickets. + +The next cavern we entered was called "Martha's Vineyard;" the trunk of +a vine climbed up the sides, and spread its branches over the roof from +which hung suspended what looked like clusters of delicious grapes. +Seeing also several which appeared to have fallen on the ground, I ran +forward to examine them, when what was my disappointment to find that +they were of a stony nature, thus formed by the dropping of the water. +In another cave our guide, having lighted two of the largest torches, +waved them about, when we appeared to be standing in a wintry scene. +Ice above us, ice on the ground, with here and there patches of snow. + +We did not get nearly to the end of the cavern, and therefore missed +seeing a beautiful grotto which our guide told us was called "Serena's +Arbour," and that the walls are covered with a drapery resembling yellow +satin falling in graceful folds, while through it murmurs a rivulet, +falling into one of the many rivers running through the cavern, which is +said to be nine miles in extent. It appeared to me that we had been +walking all day amid vast towering rocks. Often the roof was so far +above us that even the light of our torches failed to reach it. We now +entered another hall, when our guide told us to seat ourselves on some +rocks and to extinguish our lights. + +"Don't be alarmed," he said; "I'm not going to be guilty of treachery." + +My father and Uncle Denis agreed to his proposal, and there we sat far +down in the depths of the earth, not a ray of light reaching us. I +could feel my mother's hand, but although I placed it close to my eyes, +I could not see it. After waiting some time I began to grow uneasy, +when greatly to my relief the guide returned with a lantern in his hand. + +"Look up!" he said, "see to what a region I have transported you." + +On gazing upwards, we saw stars innumerable glittering in the sky, so it +seemed, but in vain we looked for those to which our eyes were +accustomed, though it was difficult to persuade ourselves that they were +not veritable stars. The guide, holding a stone in his hand, threw it +upwards, when it struck the roof above our heads, and we found that the +seeming stars were produced by pieces of mica imbedded in the roof on +which the light from the lantern, being thrown in a peculiar way, was +brightly reflected. + +Relighting our torches, we saw that the walls were of a yellow colour, +while the ceiling appeared to be of a dark undefined blue, resembling +the midnight sky. We visited several other caverns, some of which +appeared to be of immense height, though the ceiling in most parts is +not more than thirty feet from the ground. + +One cavern had, what looked like a mountain in that subterranean region, +rising from the ground, with a stream running at its base. We crossed +several rivers; besides the "Echo," one called the "Styx," the other the +"Lethe." Our guide had brought a net, with which he caught some fish +and crawfish. On examining them we could discover no appearance of +eyes, while, from being deprived of the warm rays of the sun, they were +perfectly white. Uncle Denis remarked that as they had no lamps down +there, eyes would have been useless, but their instinct, or probably +their keen sense of feeling, told them when they were running into +danger. The crickets which came hopping about around us, could however, +we ascertained, see perfectly well, and appeared to be attracted by the +light of our lanterns. They were not pleasant-looking creatures, and if +the rats can find nothing else to eat, they must have an uncomfortable +life of it. The guide told us that the cave was not known to white men +until 1802, though he did not acknowledge that the natives were ignorant +of its existence. For many years no one could advance beyond three +miles from the entrance, further progress being stopped by a deep chasm +called the "Bottomless Pit." At length, however, a daring guide threw a +ladder over it, and thus getting across, he explored six more miles of +this underground region. A bridge has now been constructed, by which +people can pass over in perfect safety. He asserted that no dog would +willingly enter the cavern, and that although he had made the attempt +several times to induce his own faithful animal to follow him, the +creature had always run back howling with dismay. We readily believed +this, and for my part I felt oppressed with a sensation of awe I had +never before experienced, and which I can to this day vividly recollect. +I have since, more than once, visited that subterranean world, and +though aware that its dimensions are not so great as I then imagined, +and that there was no real danger to be apprehended, I have on each +occasion felt awestruck, though in a less degree than formerly. + +My father and mother acknowledged that they were thankful when we +regained the upper world, and Uncle Denis gave a shout of satisfaction +as he inhaled the fresh air of heaven, while the black boys leapt and +laughed, and tumbled against each other, as they hurried off to harness +the horses to the waggon. + +"Fine place dat, Caesar, for niggar to hide away if de white massa not +know it," observed Peter to his companion. + +"Berry good for hide 'way, but bad for de food; nothing but rats and +crickets to eat dare." + +Uncle Denis, jumping up on the box, shouted "Erin-go-bragh," and away we +dashed as fast as we had come. It was dark long before we reached the +farm; my mother appeared pretty well tired out. We remained a couple of +days more to recruit, and then set out on our return home. Uncle Denis +accompanied us part of the first day's journey. + +"Keep clear of Master Silas Bracher," he observed as we were about to +part. "I have no wish to meet him again, for he is more likely to pick +a quarrel and send a bullet through a man's body than to do him any +good." + +"I'll follow your advice," answered my father; "I wish from my heart, +though, that I could get the black, Dio, out of his power. I really +believe that he is jealous of the poor slave." + +"You may as well try to draw sunbeams out of a cucumber, as to get him +to agree to your offer; keep clear of him altogether, and should I have +the chance, I will not forget your wish to obtain the black, whom, +should I succeed, you can either set free or keep in bondage, as you may +decide; probably, were you to give him his choice, he would prefer +remaining your slave." + +After an affectionate farewell, Uncle Denis turned his horse's head, and +rode back, while we continued our journey to "Uphill," the name my +father had given to his property. Avoiding Mr Bracher's location, we +drove down to the ford, and as the water was much lower than when we +before crossed it, we got over in safety, though my mother naturally +felt very nervous as we were making the passage. + +We found all going on well at home, Martin Prentis, the overseer, also +giving a favourable account of affairs on the estate. It may seem +strange that, young as I then was, I should be able to give so minute an +account of some of the incidents of our journey: but in the first place +they made a deep impression on me; in the second, my parents have since +assisted me to brush up my recollections of those days. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +LIFE AT UPHILL--OUR TUTOR--MR. MARK TIDEY'S FIRST LESSON IN +HORSEMANSHIP--STUDIES FROM THE BOOK OF NATURE--OUR TRIPS WESTWARD--A +STRANGE COMBAT--A HASTY SHOT--SOMETHING WORTH KNOWING ABOUT SNAKES-- +CAMPING OUT--THE BEAR'S VISIT AND ITS RESULT--WOLVES--DRAWING LOTS--A +SLEEPLESS NIGHT--TIMELY ASSISTANCE--DYING FROM HUNGER--CONSEQUENCES OF +SHELTERING A RUNAWAY SLAVE--OUR TUTOR TURNS NURSE--CHANCES OF +DISCOVERY--WE PART COMPANY--A MID-DAY HALT--AN UNPLEASANT MEETING--THE +BULLY RECEIVES A LESSON--OUR MARCH HOMEWARDS--THE WAY DAN KEPT WATCH--WE +REACH THE FARM. + +We had been living at Uphill for some years, the wilderness had been +changed into a smiling garden, though I will not say a perfect paradise, +for I am very sure that no such spot exists on earth. Our education had +not been neglected, for my father had engaged a tutor for Dan and me, +when we grew too old for the instruction our mother could give us. Our +father was too much engaged to attend regularly to our studies, though +very well able himself to teach us. Mr Mark Tidey, our tutor, was a +character; he was fond of field-sports, but fonder still of books, and +had an aptitude for teaching which many professed tutors do not possess. +For the sake of indulging in both his fancies, he undertook to instruct +us at a very moderate stipend. My father had found him during one of +his journeys eastward at a wayside store--which he had visited for the +purpose of obtaining a supply of powder and shot--without a cent in his +pocket to pay for it. He had been endeavouring to persuade the +storekeeper that he would return in the course of a week with a number +of skins amply sufficient to pay his debts; but the wary trader, looking +at his ungainly figure and discovering that he was a "Britisher," was +unwilling to trust him. Finding that all his arguments were useless, +taking a book from his pocket, he had sat down in a corner of the store, +philosophically to console himself by its perusal. My father entering +found him thus engaged, and glancing his eye on the book, his surprise +was considerable to find that it was a copy of one of the Greek +classics. My father addressed the stranger, and soon discovered that he +was a well-informed man. After some further conversation, he was pretty +well satisfied that he was also an honest one. Mr Tidey, finding a +person who could sympathise with him, poured forth the history of his +adventures and misfortunes. He had come over to America with the +intention of establishing a school, but his slender means had been +almost exhausted before he could obtain any pupils, his attainments +indeed being at that time such as were not generally required in the +States. Believing that he could replenish his exhausted exchequer more +satisfactorily by means of his gun than in any other way, he had come +westward; but the game of which he was in search he found had been +driven further into the wilderness than he had expected, and an illness +of some weeks' duration had entirely emptied his purse. He had +notwithstanding, trudged boldly forward, though the game he killed had +been barely sufficient to supply himself with the necessaries of life. +From several letters and other documents which he exhibited, my father, +being convinced that Mr Tidey had given a true account of himself, +invited him to Uphill farm. The poor man jumped at the offer. + +"With all the pleasure in the world, my dear sir," he answered, the +tears starting to his eyes. "You have boys to teach, I'll teach them. +If you've game to be shot, I'll shoot it. If you've accounts to be +kept, I'll keep them. If you've any other work to be performed, which a +gentleman and a man of honour can perform, I'll undertake it. You would +not ask me, I am sure, to do anything derogatory to my character." + +My father, however, did not accept his offer at once, wishing to see +more of the stranger before he confided us to his care. + +"I have a spare horse, and shall be happy if you will accompany me to +Uphill," said my father. + +"I am not much accustomed to equestrian exercise, but I'll try," +answered Mr Tidey; "and unless you have five-bar gates to leap, and the +boundless prairie to gallop over, I trust that I shall stick on the back +of the animal. I don't like to be defeated, and I should not like to +abandon the undertaking on account of my want of equestrian skill. +Practice makes perfect; in the course of a few days I may perchance +become an expert horseman." + +As dinner was about to be served, my father invited Mr Tidey to join +him, and from the voracious way in which he shovelled the food into his +mouth, it was very evident that he had long been a stranger to a +satisfactory meal. + +The horses being rested, my father ordered Peter, who had left my +Uncle's service, to bring out the steed he intended for his new +acquaintance. Mr Tidey showed his ignorance of horsemanship by +attempting, in the first instance, to mount from the wrong side, until a +hint from Peter made him try the other, when, aided by the black, he +scrambled up into the saddle. My father had advised him to let Peter +carry his rifle and his slightly furnished knapsack, a fortunate +circumstance, as was proved by the sequel. As long as the horse +continued walking Mr Tidey kept his seat with becoming dignity, +endeavouring to imitate the way my father held his rein, though he +shoved his feet far into the stirrups. At length, coming to an even +piece of road, my father put his horse into a trot. For some minutes +Mr Tidey bore the jolting to which the movement subjected him with +wonderful patience, until my father heard him shriek out-- + +"O captain, captain! for the love of heaven stop, or I shall be worn +down to the bones." + +My father accordingly drew up, to allow his companion to recover +himself. After a time he again proposed moving forward. + +"I'll try, captain, I'll try," was the answer, "_fortes fortuna juvat_; +but I wish that my steed could manage to move forward in a fashion less +calculated to stir up the bile in my system, than that he has hitherto +adopted." + +"A canter, or an easy gallop would suit you best," answered my father; +"try him with a touch of your whip behind, and give a gentle jerk with +your left rein. Now, away we go!" and both steeds broke into a canter, +exchanging it in a short time for a gallop. + +"Very pleasant, very pleasant; I only hope that my nag won't run away +altogether," said Mr Tidey. + +"No fear of that," answered my father; "keep a sufficiently tight hold +on your rein, and he'll go on well enough." + +As long as the ground was level his companion stuck on to admiration, +but at length, coming to a rough part, his steed gave a bound over it, +swerving on one side and shooting his rider, fortunately, into the +middle of a bush, from which my father saw him struggling desperately to +get free. Having caught the horse, my father pulled up. + +"_Nil desperandum_! I'll try again," cried Mr Tidey; "but I should be +obliged to the animal not to play me such another trick." + +"You must be prepared for such tricks," answered my father, calling +Peter to hold the horse. + +The Dominie at once bravely remounted, and the party moved forward, but +before long he was again pitched off into the bed of a stream which +flowed by the road-side, happily without any other damage than a +thorough wetting. + +"It won't do, captain, it won't do!" he cried; "I must trust to my feet, +and I may hope some day or other to reach your hospitable home. Give me +directions how to find it, and let me have my gun and the ammunition you +were kind enough to obtain for me, and I doubt not but that in due +course I shall present myself at your gate; the exercise will dry my +clothes, and my gun will afford me as much food as I require; I am +accustomed to the vicissitudes of fortune." + +My father being anxious to get home, and suspecting that Mr Tidey would +still further delay him, somewhat reluctantly consented to his proposal, +and slipping a couple of dollars into his hand, told Peter to give him +back his rifle and knapsack, with his powder-horn and shot-belt. + +"A thousand thanks, a thousand thanks!" exclaimed Mr Tidey; "I shall +think better of the world in future than I have been inclined to do for +some time past." + +On leaving Mr Tidey my father had some doubts whether he should ever +see him again. He had, however, thought on his way home of the +conversation which had taken place between them, and came to the +conclusion that he was honest. That he intended to fulfil his promise +was proved by his appearance about ten days afterwards, with a load on +his back. + +"I've not been idle, captain, I was anxious to return your kindness," he +said. "The country abounds with game, and I could live here in +contentment for the rest of my days, provided I could occasionally +indulge in a little literary recreation." + +From that day Mr Tidey became domesticated in our family. My father +being convinced that he was a man of sterling worth, we were duly placed +under his care, and immediately he set to work to afford us the +instruction which it must be confessed we at the time greatly needed. +We made rapid progress, an evidence that he possessed the art of +teaching; and, as Kathleen grew older, she also came in for her lessons. + +Mr Tidey was of opinion, much to our satisfaction, that all work and no +play makes Jack a dull boy; and we consequently spent a portion of each +day in shooting or trapping, often making excursions to a considerable +distance from home. Sometimes in summer we camped out for several days +together. On these occasions we gained a considerable amount of +information from our worthy tutor on natural history. + +"You shall have a lesson now from the book of nature," he used to say +when we started. "It is a big book, and, if studied carefully, more +knowledge can be gained from it than from any other source. It might +not be of so much use in the great cities down east, but I opine that +you are not likely to spend much of your time in that direction, and it +is well worth obtaining for many reasons, besides the satisfaction +knowledge always affords." + +We used to start with our rifles in our hands and our knapsacks on our +backs, making our beds at night on a heap of leaves, the blue vault of +heaven for our only covering; or, when the sky looked threatening, we +either built a hut of boughs or occasionally took shelter in the log hut +of one of the pioneers of civilisation, as the hardy backwoodsmen are +called, although, in most instances, but little civilised themselves. +We preferred, however, taking up our abode at night in a bower of our +own construction. + +We met with many adventures, but, owing to Mr Tidey's caution and +judgment--though sometimes we were exposed to dangers--we always escaped +from them without any serious mishap. + +We had had several encounters with bears and wolves, and now and then we +met with more formidable enemies in the shape of a party of Shawanees +who had ventured back to their old hunting-ground in search of game, or +in the hopes of stealing the sheep or hogs of some solitary settler. + +Our tutor always spoke them fair and showed them that he was not afraid, +and if we had any game, presented it to them as a mark of his +friendship. When we came across an Indian trail we took good care to +keep a bright look-out on every side and a strict watch at night, so as +to prevent being surprised, lest the Indians might be tempted to murder +us for the sake of obtaining our arms and ammunition, unable to resist +the desire of possessing what to them would be a rich prize. + +I must not step to describe more minutely our adventures at that period, +interesting as they were to us. I will however narrate the particulars +of a curious incident which occurred during one of our excursions. + +We had gone further west than usual, and were traversing a space of +low-lying land through which a wide stream flowed onwards towards the +Mississippi. We had expected to reach some higher ground where we could +camp, when we found that the day was drawing to a close. We accordingly +looked out for a dry spot, free from long grass, on which we could light +our fire and spend the night. Some rocky ground just ahead, amid which +grew a number of small trees and bushes, promised to offer us the sort +of place we were looking for. + +We had just reached it, when I, happening to be a little in advance of +our Dominie and Dan, saw a squirrel running along the ground towards a +tree, with the evident intention of ascending it. We had already as +much game as we required, so I refrained from firing. Just as the +little creature had gained the foot of the tree, the ominous sound +produced by the tail of a rattle-snake reached my ear, and the next +instant an unusually large reptile of that species, darting forward, +seized the innocent squirrel by the head, and began to draw it down its +throat, the hind-legs of the little animal still convulsively moving. + +I beckoned to Mr Tidey and Dan, who ran forward to witness the +operation, in which I knew they would be much interested. Of course we +could quickly have put an end to the snake, though we could not have +saved its victim. The reptile had got half the body of the squirrel +down its throat, when I saw the long grass close at hand violently +agitated, and caught sight of a large black snake moving rapidly through +it. The two creatures were well matched as to size. It was the evident +intention of the black snake to attack the other. Instead of attempting +to escape with its prize, the rattle-snake, though it could not use its +venomous fangs, which would have given it an advantage over its +opponent, whose teeth were unprovided with a poison-bag, advanced to the +encounter. In an instant the two creatures had flown at each other, +forming a writhing mass of apparently inextricable coils. In vain the +rattle-snake attempted to get down the squirrel so as to use its fangs, +the animal sticking in its throat could neither be swallowed nor +ejected. The struggle was truly fearful to look at. Round and round +they twisted and turned their lithe bodies. In the excitement of the +moment we cheered on the combatants, who appeared perfectly heedless of +our cries. By the most wonderful movements the rattle-snake managed to +prevent the black snake from seizing its neck with its sharp teeth, or +coiling its lithe tail round the other. + +Had the rattle-snake succeeded in swallowing the little squirrel, one +bite with its venomous fangs would have gained it the victory. For some +time the result of the combat appeared indecisive. In point of size the +two creatures were tolerably well matched, both being upwards of six or +seven feet long, with bodies of about equal thickness, but they differed +greatly in the shape of their heads, and still more so in the form of +their tails, that of the black snake being round and tapering to a fine +point, while the thick rattle of the other was clearly discernible as +they writhed and twisted round and round, its sound never ceasing while +the deadly struggle continued; that and the angry hiss emitted by both +alone broke the perfect silence which otherwise reigned around. At +length the black snake succeeded in seizing the body of its antagonist +at some distance from the head, when by a sudden whisk it encircled with +its long tail the neck of the more venomous reptile. It then gradually +drew the body of the latter within its coils until it had firmly secured +its throat. In vain the rattle-snake attempted to free itself. At +length, to our infinite satisfaction we saw the head of the venomous +reptile drop towards the ground, and we no longer heard the rattle of +its tail; still the black snake, which had from the first kept its sharp +eyes intently fixed on those of the rattle-snake, did not appear +satisfied that life was extinct, but held it in a fast embrace, +carefully avoiding the risk of a puncture from its fangs. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Dan when he saw the victory gained by the black snake. +The reptile, the combat being now over, was startled by the sound of +his voice. For an instant it looked at us with head erect, as if about +to spring forward to the attack, when Dan, before Mr Tidey could stop +him, lifted his rifle and fired. The big snake fell, and, after a few +convulsive struggles, was dead beside its conquered foe. + +"I wish that you had let the creature live," said Mr Tidey; "it would +have done us no harm and deserved to go free; besides which it would +probably have killed a number more rattlesnakes." + +"Unless bitten itself," I remarked. + +"It was too wary a creature and too rapid in its movements to be taken +at a disadvantage," observed Mr Tidey. "It would have waited until it +could catch another rattle-snake taking its dinner. However, as the +creature is killed, we will examine it and see how it differs from the +venomous reptile. To prevent the other from coming to life, we will +make sure work by cutting off its head." + +"Be careful," cried Dan, "I thought I saw its body move." + +Taking his axe from his belt, our tutor, with one blow, severed the head +from the body. + +"Don't prick your finger with its sharp fangs," said Mr Tidey, "for, +although the creature is dead, the poison may exude and perhaps produce +death even now." + +As he spoke he held up the head by the tail of the squirrel. The body +of the little creature had begun to swell and filled the whole of the +snake's mouth. Taking out a sharp knife and pressing the head of the +snake with his axe, he cut open its jaws so as to expose both the upper +and lower portions; by this means also he extracted the body of the +squirrel. He then showed us its poison fangs, which, on removing the +little animal, folded back into the upper jaw, on the sides of which +they were placed. The points were as sharp and fine as needles. He +then cut out from each side of the head, close to the root of the fangs, +the venom-bags. + +"You see that, to enable the head to contain these bags, it is very much +broader than that of the harmless snake," he observed. "We shall find +the same breadth of head in all the venomous species. The bags contain +between them about eight drops of poison, one of which would be +sufficient, introduced into the blood, to kill a man or a horse. You +see round the base of each fang, a mass of muscular tissue. By its +means the fang is elevated or depressed. When the snake opens its mouth +to strike its victim, the depressing muscles are relaxed, and the +opposite series become contracted, causing the fangs to rise up ready +for action. Now look through my magnifying glass. You see that the +fang is hollow from the base to the point, from the former the poison is +pressed up out of the poison-bag and exudes through the fang point, +which, as you see, is in the form of a narrow slit on its concave side." + +"I don't see how any liquid could get through that," observed Dan. + +"It does though, and quite sufficient comes through to produce a deadly +effect. The other teeth enable the serpent to hold its prey, but are +not in communication with the poison-bags. I'll now show you the +poison, but we must be very cautious how we handle it," observed the +Dominie. + +On this he cut open the poison-bags and exhibited a small amount of +pale-yellow oil-like substance. He afterwards cleaned his knife +carefully, and observed, "So potent is the venom, that even should a +small drop remain, and were I to cut my finger, after the lapse of many +days, I might fatally poison my blood. And now, to prevent any +accident, we will bury the poison-bags and fangs, where they are not +likely to do any harm," he added. + +Having dug a hole with his axe, he did as he proposed, covering it up +with leaves. + +"And now we will have an examination of the creature's tail, in which it +differs from all other reptiles." + +Having cut it off, he held it up, and counted the joints, of which the +snake--one of the largest of its species--had twenty. Cutting them +apart he showed us how the apparatus was arranged. I could best +describe it by saying it looked as if a number of small cups were placed +one within the other, flattened on both sides, with rings round the +edges and slightly decreasing in size towards the end, the last joint +being the smallest and forming a knob. These cups are horny and loosely +joined, so as to produce the rattling sound for which the creature is +noted. Every year of its life a new joint is supposed to be added, so +that the reptile killed by the black snake, must have been twenty years +old. Each joint was in form somewhat like the tip end of my thumb. I +have often since seen rattlesnakes, though seldom one so large. +Generally I have found them coiled up among the dry herbage, with the +tip of the tail raised in the centre of the coil. On seeing me approach +the creatures have instantly produced a quivering movement of their +tails, which made the joints of the rattle shake against each other. I +cannot find expressions to describe the sound, but having once heard it +I never failed to approach with caution, or to keep out of the +creatures' way. + +"We will now have a look at the blue or black snake, or, as it is called +here, `the Racer,'" observed the Dominie, "and a `racer' it is rightly +called, for it moves along, as we saw this one do through the grass, at +the speed of lightning. When I first saw one I fancied from the noise +that it made rushing through the dried grass, that it was a rattle-snake +and shot the creature before I discovered that it was of a non-venomous +species. It can, however, bite very severely with its sharp teeth, and +I once saw a poor man almost frightened to death, believing that he had +been bitten by a rattle-snake. You see that the head is supplied with a +formidable array of teeth, but its tail is much longer and finer than +that of the rattle-snake. It can, however, open its jaws wide enough to +gulp down a good-sized bird. It gains its name of the blue or black +snake from the colour of its back, which is, as you see, blue-black; +while the underside is of an ashen slate hue. The tints vary slightly, +and hence the two names. Its tail is fine in the extreme, and enables +it to steer its rapid course through the herbage." + +We let our Dominie run on, though we were well acquainted with the black +snake, for several had at different times come to the farm in search of +rats, of which they kill a vast number. My father gave orders that they +should not be molested; after remaining, however, for some time, they +invariably took their departure, for, as it may be supposed, it is +impossible to detain them against their will, as they can climb over +high palings or walls and insinuate their bodies into very small holes. + +The battle and the lecture occupied some time, when we had to hurry in +order to get our camp ready for the night. Our first care was to cut a +sufficient supply of fire-wood to keep up a good blaze during the night, +and as the air in that low situation was somewhat damp, Mr Tidey +advised that we should build a hut, which would serve the double purpose +of sheltering us from the heavy mist, as well as afford a protection +from any wild beasts which might be prowling about. We had killed a +couple of turkeys, and as soon as we had got a good pile of hot embers +we stuck up our game to roast, Dan having plucked them while I formed +the uprights and spits, and Mr Tidey was engaged in erecting the hut. +The odour from the roasting turkeys filled the air and was wafted by a +light breeze into the recesses of the forest. Preparations for the +night were made. We had taken our seats before the fire, with one of +the turkeys already placed on a large leaf, which served as a dish, when +a rustling sound, accompanied by that of the breaking of branches, +reached our ears. Dan and I started to our feet. + +"Stay quiet!" whispered Mr Tidey, lifting his rifle which lay by his +side: "we will see what will happen, no red-skins make those sounds, +they would approach far more cautiously." The sound of the snapping of +the branches and underwood increased, and presently we saw a shaggy +creature, which, by the light of the fire thrown upon it, we immediately +recognised as a huge bear. + +"What a monster!" cried Dan; "let me shoot it." + +"No, no, you might miss; the creature would become dangerous if +wounded," answered the Dominie. + +We all three were at this time kneeling down with our rifles ready for +action. The bear advanced cautiously, sniffing up the odours of the +roast turkey, but not liking the glare in his eyes. + +"Don't either of you fire until I tell you," whispered our tutor. + +The next instant the bear, one of the brown species, raised itself on +its hind-legs to look round. The Dominie pulled his trigger. So well +aimed was his shot, that "bruin" rolled over, giving a few kicks with +his thick legs. + +"Stay, boys; don't go near his head until you're sure that he is dead," +cried the Dominie, who was always very careful of us; and advancing axe +in hand, he dealt the prostrate bear a blow, which effectually knocked +any life it might have retained out of it. + +"It's a pity we are not nearer home, or we might take the skin with us +as a trophy," I observed. + +"Oh, I'll carry it!" cried Dan, "provided that I have not to take the +head." + +"I'll help you," said I. + +"And I'll relieve you when you get tired," observed the Dominie. "At +all events we will have some bear-steaks for breakfast as a change from +turkeys." + +That bear, though easily gained, cost us a sleepless night. We had +eaten our supper and had just thrown ourselves on our leafy couches, +when a low howl was heard, followed by several yelps. + +"Those are wolves!" cried Mr Tidey, starting up; "they'll eat the bear +and then eat us, if we don't drive them off." + +"They sha'n't have the bear!" cried Dan; "let's drag him up to the fire +and fight over his body." + +"It would be more prudent to skin him and cut off the steaks we may +require," said the Dominie: "we will then drag the body to a distance +and allow the wolves to fight over it, so that we can pick them off at +our leisure or drive the survivors away when they have done their +feast." Shouting and waving brands in our hands we drove the hungry +pack to a distance, where they sat down howling with rage and +disappointment while we, by the bright flames of the fire, succeeded in +skinning the bear and cutting off the tit-bits; we then, as proposed, +dragged the carcase to the borders of the forest-glade in which we were +encamped, and returned to our fire with the skin and meat. No sooner +had the flames produced by some fresh wood thrown on the fire decreased, +than the howling pack drew near the carcase. Concealing ourselves +behind our hut, we waited to watch what would next take place. It was +evident that the brutes were still wary of the fire, for they approached +cautiously: at last one bolder or more hungry than the rest, rushed +forward and commenced gnawing at the carcase. His example was followed +by his companions. We counted upwards of thirty of the savage +creatures, a formidable pack had we been without arms, or a fire, but +they caused us no anxiety about our safety. "Now, boys, wait until I +give the word, and we'll fire together," whispered our Dominie. "I'll +take the one to the right; and you, Mike, take a fellow in the centre; +and you, Dan, knock over a third to the left. We may exterminate the +whole pack, if we take good aim, as the survivors are sure to kill their +wounded companions. Now, fire!" + +Dan and I did as he desired, and three wolves rolled over. +Notwithstanding this the greater part of the pack were too eager in +devouring the bear to take much notice of what had occurred. A few, +apparently young wolves, who stood at a distance, howling and yelping, +afraid to approach while the elders were enjoying their feast, ran back +alarmed at the shots. They, however, quickly returned. We immediately +reloaded, and at another signal from Mr Tidey again fired. Two more +wolves were killed, but Dan only slightly wounded an animal, which went +howling away, creating a panic among the outsiders. The rest, still +regardless of the death of so many of their number, continued gnawing +away at the bear, snarling and yelping, and wrangling over their feast. + +The third time we fired, with the same success as at first. + +"We may let them alone for the present until they have eaten up the +bear, as there is no chance of their molesting us," observed Mr Tidey; +"and we shall expend too much of our ammunition, if we attempt to kill +the whole pack. Let us make up the fire and they will not venture near +us." + +Although the flames burnt up brightly, the wolves did not appear to be +scared by them, but continued as before tearing the carcase to pieces, +presenting a surging mass of heads, tails, and bodies twisting and +turning and struggling together, while they kept up an incessant chorus +of snarls and yelps. The Dominie proposed that we should lie down while +he kept watch. + +"No, no, we will take it by turns to do that," I observed; "let us draw +lots who shall take the first watch; we shall all of us then obtain some +sleep and be ready to proceed in the morning." + +My proposal was agreed to, three pieces of stick served our purpose held +in Dan's hand. I drew the longest and had the first watch, promising to +call the Dominie in a couple of hours. I took good care to keep up a +blazing fire, while I paced backwards and forwards, between it and the +hut. I had no fear of falling asleep, while the uproar continued, +though scarcely had Dan stretched himself on the ground, than his eyes +closed, while the snores which proceeded from the spot where the Dominie +had thrown himself assured me that he too was in the land of dreams. + +As the "patriarchs" of the pack had somewhat appeased their hunger, the +younger members rushed, in uttering sharp yelps, to which the elders +replied with still louder snarls, greatly increasing the horrible din. +The Dominie and Dan started up, fancying that the wolves were upon us. +Neither of them could after this go to sleep. + +"Come, Mike, I'll take your place," said Mr Tidey. This I declined, +for I knew it would be useless to lie down. We therefore all three sat +round the fire, hoping that the wolves would at length leave us quiet. +The savage brutes, however, having finished the bear began to tear up +the bodies of their companions, wrangling over them as they had done +over that of bruin. + +At last the Dominie, losing patience, jumped up exclaiming, "We must +drive these brutes off, though they are not worth any more of our powder +and shot." + +Each of us taking a burning brand, we advanced towards the wolves, and, +waving our torches, raised a loud shout. The brutes hearing the noise +and seeing us coming, took to flight, disappearing in the depths of the +forest. Where the body of the bear had been, part of the skull, and a +few of the larger bones alone remained, while most of the wolves had +also been torn to pieces and the whole ground round was strewn with the +fragments and moist with gore. Disgusted by the sight, we hurried back +to our camp. + +"We shall get some rest now, I hope, for I don't think the wolves will +come near us," said Dan. + +"Not so sure about that," observed the Dominie; "however, we will try +and obtain some sleep." + +Before our eyes were closed the horrible chorus of howls and yelps and +barking recommenced, and continued apparently on every side of our camp; +still, while the fire burned brightly, there was no fear of the brutes +rushing in on us. To sleep, while those dismal howls broke the +stillness of night, was simply impossible. Now the creatures appeared +to be coming nearer, now they retreated, now they seemed on this side, +now on that; their voices had summoned a fresh pack, who, rushing in, +quickly devoured the remainder of the feast. All night long the tumult +was kept up. Occasionally Mr Tidey or I rose to attend to the fire. +Upon each occasion I caught sight of numerous glaring eyes staring out +at us from amid the darkness. As morning approached the sounds +gradually ceased, and we had the satisfaction of believing that the +wolves had retreated to the recesses of the forest. I immediately fell +asleep, and when Mr Tidey roused Dan and me, the sun was already +several degrees above the horizon. We breakfasted on some bear-steak, +which we had fortunately secured, then set to work to scrape the skin +and to pack it up in a tight compass. As we had no wish to carry the +skin further than we could help, we put about and steered a course for +home, which we calculated it would take us four days to reach. Nothing +occurred worth narrating for the next three days. + +We had still a march of about twenty-five miles to accomplish, and were +looking for a convenient spot to camp in near a stream bordered by a +wood, when we heard a low moan, which seemed to proceed from no great +distance off. + +"That's a human voice," observed Mr Tidey; "some poor fellow wounded by +the Indians, or who perhaps has been injured by some other means." + +We hunted about, being still uncertain of the exact spot whence the +sound proceeded. Again a moan reached our ears, and guided by it we +hurried on, when behind a bush we found stretched on the ground, +apparently at the last gasp, a negro dressed in the usual costume of the +slaves, a rough shirt and loose trousers. His feet were cut and +bleeding, probably from the sharp rocks and prickly bushes among which +he had passed. He opened his languid eyes as the sound of our footsteps +reached his ears, and pointing to his mouth murmured-- + +"Eat, eat,--massa, eat." + +Having fortunately the remains of our last dinner in our knapsacks, we +were at once able to give him some food, while Mr Tidey poured some rum +and water down his throat. The effect was most satisfactory. In a few +minutes he was able to sit up, when he gazed at us earnestly. + +"Where were you wanting to go, my poor fellow?" asked the Dominie in a +kind tone. + +The black's eye brightened. + +"Oh, massa, you kind to poor nigger," he said in a weak voice. + +"White man or nigger, we are all of the same stock, whatever the +philosophers may say to the contrary. I won't ask where you came from, +except you wish to tell us; but perhaps we can help you on your way if +you have friends you desire to reach." + +I don't think the black quite understood the Dominie's remarks, but he +comprehended enough to know that they were dictated by a kind spirit and +that he might trust us. + +"You no gib up de poor slave to his hard massa?" he said in a whisper, +his voice trembling as if he was divulging a secret on which his life +depended. + +"No, that I'll not," said the Dominie; "I don't hold with those who +think they have a right to buy and sell their fellow-creatures, and in +my opinion those fellow-creatures are perfectly justified in +endeavouring to get away from them, though if I was to say so down east, +I might chance to be the victim of `Lynch law.'" + +The countenance of the negro brightened still more. + +"Dis nigger go whar you go, massa," he said, attempting to rise. His +strength, however, was insufficient for the exertion, and he sank back +to the ground. + +"You are not able to journey yet, and it will take you two or three days +to regain your strength," observed the Dominie; "so we will camp here, +boys, and as we are not expected home for a day or two, it will be no +great loss to us. We have light enough yet to shoot our suppers, and I +heard a turkey `gobble' not far off. You stay by the black man, collect +wood for a fire and boughs for a shanty, while I go and try my luck." + +Saying this, our kind-hearted tutor took his rifle and soon disappeared +in the forest. We, in the meantime, were too much occupied in obeying +his directions to put any further questions to the negro, whose eyes, +however, were turned towards us as we moved about. We had soon +collected sufficient fuel to last us during the night, and then employed +ourselves in cutting down some young trees and lopping off some boughs. +While thus engaged we heard two shots. A short time afterwards the +Dominie appeared, carrying a turkey in one hand and a small fawn over +his shoulder. + +"We've food here, boys, for ourselves and enough to set the negro on his +legs again," he exclaimed as he approached us. "Well done, I see you +haven't been idle; now kindle the fire while I fix up the shanty. I +should like to get our poor friend here under cover as soon as possible, +for more reasons than one, and he'll be the better for a mug of soup." + +The Dominie, among other articles, had carried, I should have said, a +small saucepan, which had served to fetch water, boil our tea, and was +equally applicable for making a small quantity of soup. While I made up +the fire, Dan, having filled the saucepan from the stream, plucked the +turkey and cut up a part of it into small pieces. We then put it on to +boil. The Dominie in the meantime had flayed the deer and spitted a +couple of joints to roast, together with the remainder of the bird. +This done, he finished the shanty, into which we lifted the black, and +placed him on a bed of small twigs and leaves, a far more comfortable +couch than from his appearance we suspected he had enjoyed for a long +time. His looks, more than his words, expressed his gratitude, though +he continued to murmur-- + +"Tankee, tankee, massa; God bless massa!" his vocabulary not enabling +him to use any set phrases. + +It was dark before the soup was ready. As soon as it was sufficiently +cool, and I had added some pepper and salt, I took it to him. + +"Oh, massa! dis too much good to poor nigger," he murmured as he supped +it up; and almost immediately afterwards sinking back, he fell into a +deep slumber. + +"I don't care whether the black is a runaway slave or not, but I tell +you what, boys, we must be cautious how we proceed with him, the chances +are that he is pursued," said the Dominie as we were seated before the +fire eating our ample supper. "If so, the fellows who come after him +are likely to treat us with scant courtesy." + +"I'm sure my father would wish to help the black, if he is a runaway +slave, for he hates the system of slavery as much as any man," observed +Dan. + +"I tell you what we must do, then," continued the Dominie, "if any +strangers appear, we must keep him inside the hut and cover him up with +boughs and leaves. They will scarcely suspect he is with us, and you +must leave me to answer any questions they put to us." + +"Suppose they have blood-hounds with them, the brutes are sure to scent +him out." + +"If we see the dogs approaching, we must shoot them without ceremony, +and take our chances of the consequences. I am only supposing what may +not happen, but we must be prepared for contingencies." + +As on other nights, we kept watch, giving Dan a short one, the Dominie +and I taking the longest. Our object, however, was to scare away wolves +or bears, for no human enemies were likely to approach us during the +night. + +We got up as soon as it was daylight, but the black did not awake until +the sun rose and we had finished our breakfast. We gave him some more +soup, which suited him better than our own fare, but it was evident that +he was still too weak to move. + +"The chances are that he remains in this state several days, and your +mother will become alarmed if you do not make your appearance," said the +Dominie. "You know your way home as well as I do, and I wish that you +would set off alone, while I remain with the black. State what has +happened, and perhaps your father will think fit to send the waggon to +bring us in." + +As there appeared no objection to this proposal, Dan and I agreed to +start immediately. Tears came into the eyes of the negro when we went +into the hut to wish him good-bye. + +"Oh, massa, you like angel from heaven, so good to poor black fellow," +he exclaimed. + +We had a pretty long day's march before us, for although on a beaten +road the distance would have been nothing, we had to make our way +through forests and across streams and bogs, some pretty rough hills to +climb, and valleys to pass. We carried a portion of the venison with +us, which was still uncooked, and felt sure that without going out of +our way we should be able to kill something or other to serve us for +supper should we not reach home in time. At first we had some +difficulty in making our way, and without great care we knew that we +might be steering too far to the right or left. Every mile we advanced +the country became more and more familiar. At noon we camped, lighted a +fire, and cooked the venison. We calculated that by this time we had +done about twelve miles, so Dan thought, but I was not quite sure of +that. There was no means of ascertaining which was right. "At all +events, we must not spend much time here," I exclaimed, as we finished +the last of our venison, and jumping up I buckled on my knapsack, and +took my rifle in my hand. Dan was in no hurry to start. Seeing that I +was determined to go, he got up, and we trudged on together at the same +speed as before. We had not got far when, as we reached the brow of a +hill, we caught sight of two men on horseback passing along the valley +at our feet. We instinctively drew back, hoping that we had not been +seen, but their voices reached our ears hailing us. + +"Hulloa! youngsters, have you seen a nigger-boy running in this +direction?" asked one of the men as we drew near. + +"We have seen no nigger-boy running in this direction," I replied, such +being the fact. + +"If you do, just take him along with you, and threaten to shoot him if +he won't move; don't do it though, for he's worth a heap of dollars, and +if you don't catch him, some one else will." + +"It's not our business to catch runaway slaves," Dan answered unwisely. + +"Whew! my young cock sparrow, to whom do you belong?" asked the man, +squirting a stream of tobacco juice out of his mouth, which Dan narrowly +escaped. + +"We belong to our father," answered Dan, "and to no one else." + +"And who is your father, master cock-a-hoop?" asked the man. + +"Call me by my proper name and I'll answer a civil question." + +"You'll answer whether I put the question civilly or not," cried the +fellow, raising his whip and spurring his horse on towards Dan, on which +I brought my rifle to bear on the man, exclaiming-- + +"If you touch my brother, I'll shoot you, as sure as you're a living +man." + +On this he pulled in his rein, while his companion, bursting into a loud +laugh, exclaimed-- + +"These young cocks crow loudly! I say, youngsters, who is your father? +he must be a smart fellow to own such a pair of bantlings." + +"Our father is Captain Loraine who lives at Uphill, and he's not the +person to stand nonsense from you or any other man like you!" exclaimed +Dan, whose Irish temper had risen almost to boiling pitch. + +The strangers, seeing that they could not get much change out of us, +rode on; the last man who had spoken bantering his companion on their +defeat. I saw the other turn his head several times as though not quite +sure that we should not fire after him. + +"I am glad they didn't come upon our camp this morning, although as they +have no blood-hounds with them, we might have managed to conceal the +negro without having had resort to force," I remarked. + +"But we should have had to tell lies if they had put questions to us, or +have given him up or fought for him," observed Dan. + +"Still better reason why we should be thankful that they did not find +us," I answered. + +We were so excited by what had occurred that we slackened our speed for +a considerable way. We were still several miles from home when night +overtook us; we had therefore again to camp out. We did not mind this, +but we were anxious to get to the farm, to send assistance to our tutor +and the poor black. According to our usual plan, we built a shanty, +lighted a fire, and one of us sat up to keep the latter blazing. We +heard strange sounds during the night, which kept us wakeful, and during +my watch I caught sight of a bear, though the fire made him keep at a +respectful distance. After surveying us for a few minutes, and not +discovering any tempting odour, he slunk away, convinced that he would +gain nothing by paying us a visit. When I roused up Dan, I told him to +keep a look-out, lest bruin should come back, and lay down to snatch a +short sleep, expecting to be roused up again before long. Dan, however, +saw nothing during his watch to induce him to call me, so I had my sleep +out. I was awakened by feeling him shaking my shoulder. + +"It is near morning, Mike, I think," he said; "I suspect that I must +have nodded, for the fire is lower than it should be, but I have thrown +on some sticks and it will soon be blazing up again." + +I sprang to my feet just in time to see a big shaggy beast emerging from +the surrounding darkness. I gave a poke to the fire with my foot, it +made some dry leaves burst into a flame, and then Dan and I both shouted +at the top of our voices. The bear, who had again scented us out, might +in another instant have caught Dan or me in his unfriendly embrace; but +he stopped short, and then, turning round, retreated much faster than he +had come. We did not fire, as we should probably only have wounded him +and have excited him to rage. + +Soon after this daylight broke. Having eaten the remainder of our +provisions, we started off, hoping to reach home in three or four hours. +We met with no other adventures by the way. The first person we saw on +approaching our home was our father. We told him of our discovery of +the apparently dying black, and that the dominie had remained behind to +take care of the poor fellow. + +"Mr Tidey has done as I would have had him, and acted the part of the +good Samaritan. We'll send the waggon off at once, to bring him and the +negro in," said my father. + +Though I wanted to go too, our father declared that we looked so much +knocked up from our long tramp and sleepless nights, that we must turn +in and get some rest, and he said that he would despatch Peter, who knew +the country better than we did, for the purpose. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +ARRIVAL OF THE WAGGON--WHY DIO RAN AWAY--HOW TO ACT FOR THE BEST-- +ABOLITION OF SLAVERY--WHAT BIDDY O'TOOLE MEANT TO DO--KATHLEEN AND DIO-- +BIDDY'S INTERVIEW WITH THE STRANGERS--DIO'S PURSUERS--A FORTUNATE +ARRIVAL--TEACHING THE BLACK TO READ--GOOD WORDS--AN INTERRUPTED LESSON-- +THE ALARM--MAN-HUNTERS--EVERY MAN'S HOUSE HIS CASTLE--WATCHING THE +STRANGERS--AN AGREEABLE SURPRISE--MR. MCDERMONT--MY MOTHER'S +APPREHENSIONS OF DANGER--OUR GARRISON INCREASED. + +The first thing I did the next morning on getting up was to hurry out to +ascertain if Mr Tidey and the negro had arrived, and was much +disappointed to find that the waggon had not come back. Breakfast was +over, and still it did not appear. My mother suggested that possibly +the black was too weak to be removed. When I told my father of the two +men we had fallen in with, in search of a runaway slave, he looked +grave, remarking-- + +"Possibly the fellows on their return may have fallen in with the +waggon, and if so, they have carried off it and its occupants." + +"I don't think Mr Tidey would allow himself to be captured by only two +men, or would surrender the black of whom he had taken charge," I +remarked. + +"He is not likely to submit himself to be made prisoner, I grant, unless +he should have been wounded, but possibly he may not have felt himself +called on to fight for a stranger, should the men in search of the slave +be able to prove that he belongs to them or their employer," answered my +father. "However, I'll set out to try to ascertain what has happened; +saddle Swiftsure, Mike, while I get ready." + +As I was on my way to the field in which our horses grazed, I heard Dan +shout out-- + +"Here comes the waggon, no necessity to get the horses." + +On running back to the hill on which Dan was standing, I saw the waggon +coming along, driven at a quick rate by Peter, while Mr Tidey was +seated with his rifle between his knees, close behind him. I could not +discover a third person, and I began to fear that the negro had died or +been captured by his pursuers. This was a great disappointment, and I +pictured to myself the misery of the poor fellow, should he have been +dragged back into slavery. + +While returning by a path running alongside the hill, we lost sight of +the waggon. On our arrival at the house, however, it had just reached +the foot of the hill. We here found our father, mother, and Kathleen, +standing at the doorway to welcome Mr Tidey, and to hear what had +happened. + +At that moment a person rose from the bottom of the waggon, and, leaping +to the ground, came running towards us. It was the black we had +discovered. For an instant he stopped and gazed in my father's face, +then darting forward, he seized his hand and pressed it to his lips, +exclaiming-- + +"Oh, massa! dis niggar Dio know you; nebber forget you, massa; you +remember de poor slave niggar who pulled de little boy out of de water?" + +"Remember you, my good fellow!" exclaimed my father, wringing his hand. +"I have never forgotten you; you saved my boy's life, and probably my +wife's too. There they both stand, though you don't perhaps remember +them." + +Dio gazed at my mother, then at Dan and me. + +"De lady, yes! remember her," and he made an obeisance to my mother. +"But de little boy him not know which," and he looked first at me then +at Dan. + +"That's the one," said my father, pointing to me, "he has grown +considerably since then, but he has not forgotten you." + +"No indeed I have not," I said, "and now I know who you are, I'm doubly +thankful that we fell in with you." + +"Ah, massa, dis niggar gone coon if you hadn't found him," answered Dio. + +"I'm very glad that they did find you, Dio; but how did you happen to be +in such a condition?" asked my father. + +The negro fixed his eyes on my father's countenance-- + +"Massa, me tell you de tru's. Dat cruel man, Bracher, him make de poor +niggar's back sore wid de lash, and den, when he find I lub one darkey +girl, him beat her too and den sell her for fifty dollars, 'cos she +almost dead. It almost break her heart, and her jump into de riber and +drown herself. Den Dio tink if him stay him shoot Masser Bracher, so +him run 'way and say him find de good cap'n, de only white man who eber +say one kind word to poor Dio. Him wander in de wood, and at last, when +he hab noting to eat, him sink down and tink him die. Den come de tall +doctor and de young gentleman, dey put new life into dis niggar. Ah! +massa, let Dio stay here, him ready to be always your slave, an' nebber, +nebber want run 'way." + +"Though I cannot let you be my slave, I will gladly protect you and +allow you to remain here until you have sufficiently recovered to make +your way northward into Canada, where alone you can be safe," said my +father. + +"Dis niggar wish always to be de cap'n's slave, no want to go to +Canada," answered Dio. + +"But, my poor fellow, if you remain here, you will be recaptured to a +certainty, as your former master would find you out before long, and +would place men on the watch to seize you out of doors, even though I +might protect you in the house." + +Still Dio entreated that even when he had recovered his strength he +should not be sent away; but my father was firm in declining to make any +promise both on his own account and for the sake of the black himself. +It was in fact an illegal act to assist a slave in escaping, and much +more to harbour one, and my father knew full well that possibly a party +of Kentuckian slaveholders would come across and capture Dio. The +black, although much recovered, was still somewhat weak. My father +seeing this, and considering that it would be imprudent to allow him to +sleep in the huts with the other negroes, ordered a small inner room to +be prepared for him where he could remain in tolerable security even +should any of those in search of him come our way. Peter was charged to +be cautious not to mention that he had brought Dio to the house, while +fortunately none of the other farm hands, (as far as we knew), had seen +him arrive. Mr Tidey was fully alive to the importance of keeping the +matter secret, and was as anxious as any of us to prevent the fugitive +being retaken. The negro himself seemed perfectly satisfied that he was +safe from capture now that he was with us. + +My father's intention was, as soon as he had recovered, to supply him +with a suit of clothes and some money, and to carry him off during the +night northward. He was then to make his way through Indiana to Ohio, +whence he could cross Lake Erie into Canada. My father was acquainted +with a quaker family residing not much more than a hundred miles from us +in the former state on the Wabash, and they were sure to be ready to +assist him on his journey by forwarding him on to other friends who held +their principles. At that time what was called "the underground +railway" was not regularly established, but there were a large number of +persons in the northern states, including all the members of the Society +of Friends, who objected to slavery as much as my father did, and were +always ready to assist fugitives running away from their cruel +taskmasters. The movement in England in favour of the abolition of the +slave-trade had been commenced by Wilberforce in 1787. From that time +the British emancipists gained strength, and in 1792 resolutions for the +abolition of the slave-trade were carried in the House of Commons. The +following year, however, the House did not confirm its former vote, and +though Wilberforce annually brought forward a motion, for seven years it +was regularly lost until in 1799 a bill was carried limiting the traffic +to a certain extent of coast. It was not, however, until 1807 that a +bill for the total abolition of the British slave-trade received the +royal assent. At first a penalty in money was alone inflicted on +British subjects captured on board slave-ships, but in 1811 an act +carried by Lord Brougham made slave-dealing felony. This being found an +inadequate check, in 1824 the slave-trade was declared to be piracy and +the punishment death. This was enforced until 1837, when the punishment +for trading in slaves was changed to transportation for life. Other +nations imitated England in prohibiting their subjects from trafficking +in slaves; the United States of North America and Brazil making the +traffic piracy, and punishable with death. All, with one exception, the +United States, agreed to permit their ships to be searched at sea by the +vessels of other nations. Unhappily, however, the profits on the trade +were so enormous, that the traffic in slaves continued to be carried on +from the coast of Africa to the Brazils, Cuba, and the more southern of +the United States in spite of the activity of the British cruisers. Of +course it will be understood that there is a wide distinction between +the abolition of the slave-trade, and the abolition of slavery. Great +Britain abolished slavery in her colonies in 1833, at the same time +slavery existed, with all its abominations, in the more southern of the +United States, as well as in the Brazils and Cuba, and on the other side +of the continent. At the time of which I am speaking negroes were +bought and sold and driven from one state to another. Parents were +separated from their children, husbands from their wives, and if any one +was daring enough to speak a word in favour of the much-suffering race, +he ran the risk of having his house fired, and his plantations +devastated, or of being put to death, as John Brown was in subsequent +years. + +My father was well aware of the danger he ran in harbouring Dio. Under +ordinary circumstances he would have hazarded much to save a slave from +being recaptured, but he felt himself doubly bound to preserve our negro +guest, and thus repay in the most effectual manner, the debt of +gratitude he owed to him for saving my mother's life and mine. + +The fact of his being in the house was kept a profound secret from all +the outdoor servants, and my father knew that he could trust Peter and +Black Rose, who were the only persons in the family, besides ourselves, +including Mr Tidey and our Irish servant Biddy O'Toole. The latter was +cautioned not to speak about a negro being in the house, should any +strangers come to look for him. + +"Arrah! thim spalpeens w'd be mighty claver to get onything out of Biddy +O'Toole," she answered, with a curl of her lips and cock of her nose, +while her eyes twinkled; "sure if they force themselves into the house +while the master is away, I'll bid them dare to disturb my old mither, +whose troubled with a fever. If they come near the room, I'll give them +a taste of the broomstick." + +A couple of days had passed away, and we began to hope that Dio's +pursuers had given up the search, and would not suspect where he was +concealed. He was rapidly recovering under the kind treatment he +received, for he had never before in his life been so well tended. +Either Dan, Kathleen, or I took him in his food, and Peter slept in the +same room and looked after him at night, but of course in the day-time +had to attend to his usual duties. Kathleen became Dio's special +favourite. I am sure from the way he spoke of her, he would have died +to do her a service. + +"She one angel, Massa Mike. If such as she lib in heaven, it mus' be +one beautiful place," he remarked to me one day. + +Kathleen would sit patiently by his bedside, and sing to him with her +sweet child-voice, and then read a little or tell him a story, handing +him some cooling drink when he was thirsty. + +I had one day, while chopping wood, severely sprained my right wrist. +My mother had bound it up and put my arm a sling, so that I could not +use it, and I therefore remained at home while my father and Dan were +out. The only persons in the house besides my mother, Kathleen, and +myself, being Biddy and Dio. Rose had gone to assist the wife of a +settler at some distance whose child was ill. I had been kept awake by +the pain my wrist caused me during the night, and while attempting to +read had fallen asleep, when I was aroused by the sound of the rough +voices of two men at the front door demanding admittance, and abusing +Biddy in no measured terms for refusing to let them in. + +"It'd be mighty curious, now, if I'd be afther lettin' strangers into +the house while the cap'n is away," answered Biddy, who had evidently +seen them coming, and had confronted them on the threshold; "in here you +don't put your feet 'till the masther comes home to give ye lave, an' +unless yez keep more civil tongues in your head that'll not be likely." + +"Are you the only person in the house?" asked one of the men. + +"An' what if I am the only person? I am as good as a dozen such +spalpeens as you!" cried Biddy in high tones. + +"You've got as good as a dozen tongues in your head, you saucy jade," +answered one of the men, with a laugh. + +"Saucy or not saucy, you don't come in here. I'm left in charge, with +the mistress busy in one room an' my ould mither, who came all the way +out from Ireland when I was a slip of a girl, sick in bed in another, so +I'll ax you not to spake so loudly, or you'll be afther disturbing them. +Now just sit down on the bank outside 'till the cap'n comes, or mount +your horses and ride away about your business." + +"Come, come, Mistress Sharptongue, whether the cap'n shows himself or +not, we intend to look round the house inside and out. We are hunting +for a runaway nigger, and we understand that Captain Loraine has a black +boy, and if he is not the one we are looking for, he's pretty sure to +know where the other is. These free niggers ought to be hung up on the +nearest trees wherever they are to be found; they are a pest to the +country!" + +"Sure is it Pater ye mane!" exclaimed Biddy in an indignant tone; +"nigger though he may be, he is more honest than many a white man." + +"Keep a civil tongue in your head, Misess Impudence or it may be the +worse for you," said one of the men. + +Biddy gave a scornful laugh. + +"I'll be after t'aching you to keep a civil tongue in your head; just do +as I tell you, or--" + +I could suppose Biddy flourishing her broomstick. The men laughed in +return, and then, hearing a scuffle, fearing that she might be +ill-treated, I thought it time to make my appearance with my gun in my +left hand, though it would have cost me much had it been necessary to +pull the trigger. Biddy was standing at bay, defending herself bravely +against the two men, who were endeavouring to force their way into the +hall, where the scene I am describing took place. + +Whack, whack! down came Biddy's stick on their arms, which they held up +to defend their heads, when one of the fellows, who had received a +harder blow than he liked, seized the stick with one hand, while with +the other he drew his bowie-knife and pointed it at the girl, as if +about to strike. + +"Arrah! now, ye coward, would ye be afther usin' your knife on a woman?" +shrieked Biddy. + +Fearing that the man would not hesitate to commit some act of violence, +I stepped forward, and, showing my gun, shouted, "Back, you villains, +whoever you are, or take the consequences. I have overheard what you +have said; the girl is doing her duty, and until my father comes back-- +and I expect him every minute--into this house you do not enter." + +The men, who had hitherto not seen me, observing my gun pointed at their +heads, stepped back a pace or two; when Biddy, taking advantage of their +eyes being withdrawn from her, struck the bowie-knife out of the hand of +the man who had attacked her, crying out-- + +"Fire, Mr Mike, fire; an' we shall, gain the day!" + +The two men, who evidently had no wish to risk their lives in the task +they had undertaken, sprang back together through the doorway to avoid +the expected shot, when Biddy, darting after them, slammed the door in +their faces, instantly slipping the bolt, so that they could not again +force it open, though they made the attempt. As she did so she uttered +a shout of triumph. + +"Arrah! the spalpeens will not be again trying to walk into the houses +of dacent people with a cock an' bull story about hunting for a runaway +slave. Just let them have a taste of your rifle, and they'll not forget +the lesson we ye given them." + +This she said at the top of her voice, knowing that the men outside +would hear her. Whether or not they would have made another attempt to +get in I cannot say, for at that moment, looking out from the window of +the room at which I had been seated, I caught sight of my father, Mr +Tidey, and Dan, with guns in hand, approaching the house. + +I immediately cried out to them that some men had been endeavouring to +force their way into the house. The brave Biddy's assailants hearing +what I said, and expecting probably to have some shot sent after them, +took to their heels until they reached their horses, which they had left +secured to some trees, when mounting, they galloped off as hard as they +could go. Biddy, the excitement over, went into hysterics, laughing and +crying and shouting out-- + +"We've won the day! We did it well, didn't we, Master Mike?" + +My father and Mr Tidey, on hearing the account I gave them, were of +opinion that the men were satisfied that the black was not concealed in +the house, but that Biddy had simply fought to prevent them from +entering. Probably they admired her all the more for her determined +conduct. Dan, keeping himself concealed, followed them for some +distance, and when he came back reported that they had taken the road to +Kentucky, so we hoped that we should be rid of them. + +Several days passed away and Dio had recovered his strength sufficiently +to get up and move about the house, though my father would not allow him +to go out of doors. His delight was to attend to Kathleen and do her +bidding. She, finding her power, kept him in constant employment. +Young as she was, she could read remarkably well, and her great desire +was to teach him to read. He probably had never before seen a book, as +any person attempting to teach the blacks in the slave-states would have +been thrown into prison, and very possibly hung to the nearest tree. +Except ledgers and account books, probably not a volume of any +description was to be found in Mr Bracher's establishment. For hours +together Kathleen would occupy a high chair, with Dio seated on the +ground by her side, while she taught him the alphabet or read to him +some interesting tale out of one of her books. My mother felt it her +duty to instruct him in the gospel, of which he was perfectly ignorant, +and she took great pains to impart to him its elementary truths, which +he willingly and joyfully took in. + +"Dis poor niggar nebber 'fore heard Jesus Christ," he said to her one +day in a low voice; "Him wond'ful good for die for black man like me who +nebber do noting to please Him. Me try an' lub Him an' serve Him with +all my heart to de end ob my days." + +"Christ died for black men and white men alike; God wants all people of +every colour, nation, and tongue to come to Him and to be saved," +answered my mother. "If Dio gives God his heart, God will protect him +and guide him through life until He calls him to that happy heaven He +has prepared for all those who love Him here on earth." + +When Dio heard that the Bible contained God's loving message to man, he +became doubly anxious to learn to read it. It was wonderful the +progress he made in a short time, showing that the minds of the negro +race are as capable of imbibing knowledge as those of white men. + +There was still a considerable risk that Dio might be recognised by some +of the friends of Mr Bracher who might pass that way, and my father had +determined to start with him in a few days on his projected journey +northwards. + +My father and I had just returned from a distant part of the estate, and +were about to enter the house, when, looking along the road, I saw three +horsemen, two of whom bore a striking resemblance to the men who had +paid us a visit when in search of Dio. + +"They may be mere travellers, or may be coming without any thought of +Dio, but it will be prudent, in case of accident, to be prepared for +them," observed my father; "we will go in and stow away the black." + +We entered as we spoke. Kathleen had taken her usual place on a chair +with a book in her hand while several others lay scattered before her. +Dio was seated on the ground, his eyes level with the page from which +she read, he endeavouring to repeat the words after her. Biddy was +engaged at the other end of the room in making a cake, and did not +observe us enter. My father, afraid of alarming the little girl, did +not speak, but beckoned Dio who just then looked up, to come to him. +Biddy, seeing that something was amiss, hurried out of the room after +us. + +"Not a moment to lose," he whispered, "run back to your room, jump into +bed, and draw the clothes over your head; take care that nothing +belonging to you is left in sight. Mike will carry away your shoes and +anything else you have. Some suspicious persons are coming this way." + +"I should not be surprised, Biddy, if they are your old friends," I +observed; "you will treat them with due hospitality if they enter the +house." + +"Sure the cap'n won't be lettin' thim in at all at all," she said, when +she observed the three men on horseback approaching, two of whom she +recognised as her former opponents. + +"Biddy is right," observed my father, "and our safest plan will be to +keep them outside until we ascertain their business. Let your mother +know, call Mr Tidey and Dan, and close the window-shutters as fast as +you can." + +The latter order Biddy set about zealously executing, aided by Dan and +my mother, while my father and I, joined by Mr Tidey, stood at the +front door to receive our unwelcome guests. + +"What brings you here?" asked my father; "I should have thought after +the way you behaved at your last visit that you would have been ashamed +to show your faces." + +"That's neither here nor there, captain," answered one of the men; "we +have notice that you are hiding a runaway slave, and we have come to +demand him from you; if you don't give him up, you will learn that we +have the power to take him by force." + +"No man shall enter my house unless I invite him," said my father +calmly, "as to taking any one out of my house by force, you can only do +that when you have conquered me. Whether you can conquer me or not is +to be seen." + +The men were somewhat taken aback by this address, and began to ride up +and down in front of the house, casting doubtful glances at him and Mr +Tidey. + +At last they once more pulled up, and one of them exclaimed, "Come, +captain, this won't do! I ask you whether or not you have a negro boy +anywhere about your premises? If you have, give him up without more +words. He belongs to Silas Bracher, who is not the man to allow his +property to be stolen from him." + +"I have stolen no man's property," answered my father, "and as to +allowing strangers to come into my house, under any pretext whatever, I +don't intend to do it, so you have my answer. I'll give you corn for +your horses and food for yourselves, but over this threshold you don't +step with my good will." + +"Then you don't deny having harboured the slave we are in search of?" +exclaimed one of the men. "Come, give him up, I say, or it will be the +worse for you!" + +"I don't acknowledge having afforded shelter to a black, and I don't +deny having done so. I have a perfect right to receive any strangers +into my house who come to me in distress, and if they trust to me I'll +defend them with my life," said my father. + +"Your life's not worth the snuff of a candle, then," answered the leader +of the party, one of Mr Bracher's principal overseers. + +The men, retiring to a little distance, consulted together, but seeing +the muzzles of our rifles protruding from the windows, evidently +considered that it would not be prudent to attempt any act of violence. +After some time the overseer again rode forward. He must have felt sure +that my father would not commence hostilities, or he would have kept at +a distance. + +"Captain, I give you warning that you are bringing down destruction on +yourself and family," he shouted; "you have either helped a runaway +slave to escape, or you have still got him in hiding. It would never do +for us Kentuckians to let such an act pass unpunished; we should have +half the slaves in the state bolting for the borders, and claiming the +protection of emancipists like yourself and others." The speaker +bestowed an epithet on my father which I need not repeat. "I ask you, +once more, have you got the slave, and if you have, will you give him +up?" + +"I again answer that if I had the slave I would not give him up," +replied my father in a firm tone; "if you or your master attempt to +injure my family or my property, I shall defend myself as I have a right +to do, and should any of you be killed, your blood will be upon your own +heads." + +"I call no man master, but if you mean Silas Bracher, he is not the +person to change his intentions, so I shall give him your answer," +replied the overseer, who, without more ado, turned his horse's head, +and rejoined his companions, when the three rode away in the direction +from whence they had come. Though pretty confident that the men had +gone away, my father thought it prudent to keep a watch on their +movements. Before they could have got to any great distance I hurried +out to follow them. From a hill, a short distance to the south of the +house a view could be obtained along the road they would probably take. +A grove of trees, with some thick brushwood, enabled me to watch them +without the risk of being discovered should they turn their heads. + +I soon made them out, and saw them riding on without stopping until out +of sight. Convinced that they had really gone away, I was on the point +of returning when I saw two of them, as I supposed, coming back, +spurring their horses over the level road. It was a question whether I +could reach the house before them. I ran as fast as my legs could carry +me until I got to another point whence I could take a look at them +without being seen. I then saw by their dress and the colour of their +horses that they were not the men I fancied, but that one of them was +Uncle Denis, while the other was a stranger. I therefore ran down the +hill to meet them. + +"What has happened up at the farm, Mike?" asked my uncle, after we had +exchanged greetings; "we met just now three of Bracher's men, who were +swearing away at your father and all of you in a fashion which made me +fear that they had either done some mischief, or intended doing it. I +don't think they knew that we were coming here, or they would have +picked a quarrel with us, for which they seemed very much disposed." + +I relieved my uncle's mind by telling him that the men had only used +threatening language, but I thought it prudent not to say that the +fugitive slave was actually in the house, not knowing the character of +the stranger who was with him. My uncle now introduced him to me as Mr +McDermont, a countryman, who said he had come over to settle in the +States, and who, not yet having any experience as a backwoodsman, had +determined on purchasing an improved farm. "I offered him mine, but he +does not wish to employ slave labour, and would prefer obtaining one in +a free state. I therefore brought him here, feeling sure that your +father would gladly assist him in finding the style of location he +desires." + +Uncle Denis and his companion were, of course, heartily welcomed at +Uphill. + +"I am so thankful that you have come, Denis," said my mother, who had +been much alarmed at the late occurrence, "do, pray, remain and assist +my husband in defending our property, for I dread lest those men should +carry their threats into execution!" + +Uncle Denis did his best to reassure her, saying that he did not think +Mr Bracher would venture on any act of violence, but promising to stay +some time at Uphill, until Mr McDermont had settled in the +neighbourhood. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +DIO IN HIDING--THE AGENT OF THE SWAMPYVILLE LAND COMPANY--THE SURVEYING +PARTY--MR. TIDEY AND THE SLAVE SET OFF NORTHWARD--LIVING IN A STATE OF +SIEGE--UNEXPECTED RETURN OF MR. MCDERMONT AND PETER--AN IMAGINARY CITY-- +AN OFFER TO PURCHASE UPHILL--OUR TUTOR'S SUDDEN RETURN--DIO NEARLY +RECAPTURED--IN THE CAVE--AN EXPECTED ATTACK--DAN AND I START OFF TO +RELIEVE THE SLAVE--BOXER DISCOVERS AN ENEMY--A BRAVE DOG--OUR RETREAT TO +THE HOUSE--SLEEPY PETER--JUST IN TIME--PREPARE FOR ACTION. + +The first thing now to be done was to send poor Dio away, as my father +had previously intended. He was strong enough to bear the journey, but +when he was told that it would be necessary for him to go, he looked so +miserable that we all begged that he might be allowed to remain. + +"I much regret having to send him off, but for his own sake as well as +ours, go he must," answered my father; "he shall be escorted until he is +delivered into the safe keeping of our friends, the Greys, though there +is a risk of his being suspected, should he be seen in my company." + +"Let me take charge of him, then," said Mr Tidey; "we will make our way +through the forest by unfrequented paths with rifles in our hands as if +on a shooting expedition, and shall run little risk of falling in with +anyone who will interfere with us." + +Our tutor's offer was accepted. My father wrote a letter to Mr Grey, +introducing him, at the same time so carefully worded, that, should it +fall into the hands of enemies, Dio might not be betrayed. + +It was arranged that they should start the following morning. The poor +negro was overcome with grief when he heard what was decided. + +"Dis poor niggar break him heart leave Missy Kathleen, him no more learn +read!" he exclaimed, bursting into tears. So powerful was the effect +produced that he was taken seriously ill, and the next morning was +utterly unable to proceed. I am sure he was not shamming, for he tried +to get up and prepare for his journey. He recovered somewhat during the +day, and acknowledging that it was his duty to go for the sake of our +family, declared that he should be ready to start whenever Mr Tidey +wished. + +That evening a report was brought to the house by one of the +farm-labourers that two suspicious characters had been seen in the +neighbourhood, and from the description of the men we had no doubt that +they were the same who had before paid us a visit and had been driven +off by Biddy's heroism. + +On hearing this, Uncle Denis offered to go out to try and ascertain what +they were about. I begged to accompany him. We hunted round in all +directions, and were returning home when we caught sight of two persons +skulking in a wood at a short distance from the house. On seeing us +they beat a rapid retreat, and darkness coming on they managed to get +away before we could overtake them, but Uncle Denis was of opinion that +they were watching the house in the hopes of catching Dio. + +This surmise was ultimately proved to be correct, showing that by some +means or other they had information that he was still with us. My +father, fearing that the black would be followed and recaptured, +determined to postpone sending him off for two or three days; hoping in +the meantime to mislead the slave-hunters and make them suppose that Dio +had escaped. We took good care during this time not to leave the house +unguarded, my father, Uncle Denis, or Mr Tidey remaining at home with +either Dan or me as well as Biddy and Peter while the windows, unless +some one was on the watch near them, were kept closed and barred. Our +guest, accompanied by one or more of the party, made excursions in the +direction my father thought he would most probably find a location, but +he could hear of no farm at all likely to answer his purpose. His +object soon became known, and the fourth morning after his arrival a +stranger was seen approaching the house. He introduced himself as Mr +Nicholas Chouse, agent for the Swampyville Land Company. + +In the most glowing terms he described the new township which had been +lately formed in the north-west part of the state, advising my father +and Mr McDermont to become purchasers of the finest allotments which he +had to offer for sale. Mr Chouse was a man of great volubility of +tongue, unbounded assurance, with a look of determination which showed +that he would not have his word doubted. + +"These lands, sir, will become the most valuable in the State, I may +say, with perfect confidence, in the whole Union; unrivalled water +power, magnificent pastures and arable land capable of producing crops +of corn such as the world has never seen. All that is required to +develop their resources is capital and labour, and labour will always +follow where capital leads the way. When once the country is opened up, +we shall drain Canada of her population, and the inhabitants of the +eastern states will come flocking in crowds, some to find employment, +others to purchase the lots improved by the early settlers, paying a +thousand per cent at least on the capital expended. You, sir, look like +a man who would not neglect so favourable an opportunity of realising a +fortune vastly surpassing that of the proudest duke in England," he +said, turning to Mr McDermont. + +Our guest listened with eager ears. If only half what Mr Chouse said +was true, it would be well worth his while at all events to inspect the +country. If he found it even moderately answer the account given, +though contrary to his previous intention, he might wisely become a +purchaser. + +The land agent, seeing that he made some impression, pressed home his +advantage. I cannot repeat all he said, but he finally succeeded in +inducing Mr McDermont to invest in a small allotment with the right of +purchasing as much more of the surrounding country as he could desire. +Had it not been for Dio, my father or uncle would have accompanied him, +but they were unwilling to leave Uphill while there was a risk of +annoyance from the slave-hunters. It was finally arranged that Mr +McDermont should set out with Peter, who was well used to travelling, +and would be of great assistance to him. Mr Chouse had given him maps +of the country and a plan of the township, so that he would have no +difficulty in finding the location of which he had become the happy +possessor for the sum of two hundred dollars, which had been paid into +the agent's hands. As Mr McDermont and Peter set off in one direction, +the agent departed in another, observing, "that he had a round to make, +and would rejoin Mr McDermont at Swampyville." + +We had some hope that Peter being seen to leave Uphill might mislead any +of the Kentuckians who were on the watch; that should they follow him, +Dio might have a better opportunity of escaping. + +Accordingly, the next morning, before daybreak, habited as a hunter, +with a knapsack on his back, a gun in his hand, a broad-brimmed hat +completely shading his face, he and Mr Tidey set out on their journey +northward. All the family were up to see them off, and we offered up a +prayer for their safety. Dan and I wanted to accompany them, but our +father pointed out that it might be dangerous to do so, as, should any +of the people on the watch for Dio meet us coming back, they might +suspect the direction the travellers had taken, and follow them up. + +We lived literally in a state of siege, for every day information was +brought us that suspected persons were hovering about, and it was +evident that Mr Bracher's emissaries had not given up hope of +recapturing the fugitive. + +Some days passed away. Uncle Denis grew impatient, he was naturally +anxious to return to his farm, and yet was unwilling to leave my father +and mother while matters remained in this unpleasant state. My father +was as firm as at first in his resolution not to allow any persons to +enter his house without his permission, and it was impossible to say +when we might receive another visit from the fellows who had before +tried to force themselves in. Should he now permit them to enter, they +would naturally conclude that the slave had been concealed in the house, +though he had now made good his escape. + +We did not expect to see Mr Tidey for some time, should he have +succeeded in conveying Dio to a safe asylum, nor was it likely that Mr +McDermont would return until he had made arrangements for locating +himself on his new purchase. He would, however, certainly send back his +companion to report the progress he had made. Great was our surprise, +therefore, when one evening, soon after dark, he and Peter arrived at +the house, looking travel-stained and weary. + +"I hope you are satisfied with Swampyville?" said my father, after he +had welcomed our friend. + +"Faith, sir, I should be an easily pleased gentleman if I was," answered +Mr McDermont. "I've been thoroughly gulled by that fellow Chouse. As +it was my first, so it shall be my last journey in search of a new +location. I won't trouble you with an account of all the adventures we +met with. For the first two or three days we got on pretty well, +barring the rough accommodation and the rougher inhabitants of this wild +country. I thought we must have taken the wrong road. Nothing could I +hear of Swampyville, although the map showed me that we were pursuing +the right course. At last we arrived at a river which I guessed fell +into the mighty Missouri, but our location was some way farther down. +Accordingly, leaving our horses, I hired a boat, in the expectation of +reaching it more easily by water than by land. Faith, sir, I was not +wrong in that respect. The plan showed me a fine city, rising on the +banks of the stream, with broad, handsome streets running at right +angles to each other, a court-house, gaol, two banks, three or four +hotels, masonic hall, and churches and chapels innumerable, proving what +a moral and religious people were to be my neighbours. At length I +reached the spot where the city should have been, but the water had +risen and had, I concluded, flowed over the whole, for not a building of +any sort could I discover. Certain well defined land-marks existed, and +I could make out that I was in the midst of Swampyville, but not a trace +could I discover of the property of which I had become the happy +possessor. I stood up and gazed round me in despair. `Yes, massa,' +said Peter, letting his oars drop from his hands, `dis Swampyville, no +doubt 'bout dat, only de houses and de streets not here, much easier to +draw dem on de paper dan to build dem up.' Peter was right; I had been +bamboozled and lost my dollars." + +"You must not be cast down, my friend," said my father, "you are not the +only person who has been taken in in the same manner. There is however, +no lack of first-rate localities in the country, both for cities and +towns, or of arable and pasture land. It will be a lesson to all of us +not to purchase property until we have visited the spot and ascertained +its value." + +"I'm half inclined to go back to ould Ireland, where, although a +landlord gets shot now and then, and the people are not always as +peaceable as might be desired, honest labourers can be obtained for +money, if not for love, and the land is free from the curse of slavery. +If, however, I could find an estate in tolerably good order, such as +yours for instance, I would become the purchaser, and settle down in +this new world of yours. The dollars paid to Mr Chouse are lost, but I +have still enough money left to buy and cultivate a fair-sized +property." + +"Are you in earnest, Mr McDermont?" asked my father; "if you are, and +would like to buy Uphill, I will consider the matter. I had no thoughts +of leaving the place, but circumstances may occur which might induce me +to part with it." + +"Never was more in earnest in my life," said our guest. "I should have +wished to be your neighbour rather than your successor, but if you have +a mind to sell, I am ready to buy." + +My father and Uncle Denis talked the matter over. To our surprise, my +uncle said that he had had an offer for his farm and had made up his +mind to accept it, and that if we moved west he would accompany us. My +mother, however was very unwilling to leave Uphill. We had all been +born there, and she and all of us were attached to the place. + +Mr McDermont appeared to be in no great hurry, and told my father that +he would give him a week to decide. + +That very evening as we were sitting down to supper, a knock was heard +at the door, which was kept barred and bolted since the visit from the +Kentuckians. My father, thinking that they had possibly returned, got +up, and, taking his rifle in his hand, went to the door. + +"Who knocks?" he asked. + +"Mark Tidey," was the answer. "Quick, quick, let me in." + +My father, recognising our tutor's voice, withdrew the bolts. Mr Tidey +entered, looking pale and thoroughly knocked up, his dress torn and +bespattered with mud. + +"What has happened, Mr Tidey?" asked my father; "has poor Dio been +recaptured?" + +"We will close the door first, and I will then tell you, sir," answered +the Dominie, hurriedly pushing back the bolts. "I have been pursued, +and before long the villains will be here, if I mistake not." + +"We will be ready for them if they come, and teach them a lesson they'll +not forget in a hurry," said my father. + +"Oh! Mr Tidey, has poor Dio been retaken?" asked my mother, as he sank +into a chair at the table. + +"I hope not, and indeed I have good reason to believe that he has +escaped them," replied our tutor. "I fully expected to carry him safe +to his destination, when, as we were making our way through a forest the +second day after leaving this, I heard the bay of a hound, which I felt +sure by the sound was one of those accursed dogs, used by the +slave-owners to track runaway negroes. Dio heard it also and gave +himself up for lost. I fortunately knew the country we were in, for I +had visited it several times during my shooting excursions, and I +remembered some rocky ground away to the left in which I had discovered +a cave, the entrance concealed by a thick mass of brushwood. I had +taken shelter there during a storm, and had spent the time in exploring +it. It was perfectly dry, with several passages leading to smaller +caverns, in which fifty men might lie concealed, with little risk of +being discovered by a stranger to the place. I at once bethought me, if +we could reach it we might be safe from pursuit, and remain there until +the slave-hunters had passed by. + +"We were making our way towards it, when the increasing loudness of the +hound's voice convinced us that we could not reach it before we should +be overtaken. Had there been two dogs, I should have told Dio to remain +with me, but as there was but one I determined to tackle the brute, and +directed him to hurry on to the cavern, where I should join him. +Scarcely had he disappeared in the brushwood, than the dog came in +sight, with its nose to the ground, following up our trail. Its masters +must be, I guessed, close behind. Lifting my rifle, as the hound was a +dozen paces from me, I fired. Its loud baying ceased, and over it +rolled with its legs kicking in the air. Feeling sure that it was done +for, I turned and ran, having just time to get behind some thick bushes, +when the Kentuckians reached the spot where the dog lay dead. I could +hear their loud oaths and execrations on the man who had shot their +animal. They seemed puzzled as to who had done the deed, and vowed +vengeance on his head should they catch him, whoever he was. Presently +I heard their footsteps pass close by. I had had no time to reload, so +had they discovered me I should have been in their power. I determined, +however, to have a fight for it rather than become their prisoner, or +allow myself to be murdered on the spot. It was very evident that they +had no experience as backwoodsmen, or they would have discovered my +trail. They had been depending on their dog, and were now completely at +fault. + +"`He must have run that way, and can't have got far, for I heard the +shot not five minutes ago,' exclaimed one of them. + +"`On, on, we shall soon overtake him, whoever he is.' These words +greatly relieved my mind and I felt sure, from the sounds which reached +my ears, that they were hurrying on to the northward. As soon as I +calculated that they were out of sight, I made my way towards the +cavern. I found Dio crouching down at the entrance. + +"`We will hide until to-morrow morning and then pursue our course,' I +whispered. `By that time the Kentuckians will probably have turned back +and given up the pursuit, as it is very clear they can do nothing +without their dog.' + +"Dio agreed to this, and by searching about we soon discovered a hollow +in which we could remain concealed until the following morning, when I +proposed going out first to ascertain whether the coast was clear. +There was abundance of dry wood not far from the mouth of the cavern. +We soon collected enough to keep up a fire during the night, and in the +spot we had chosen there was no fear of its reflection being seen +outside. It served to cook our provisions and at the same time scare +off any wolves or bears who might visit us. We were not disturbed, +however, during the night, although nearly stifled with the smoke from +the small fire we kept up. According to my intention, soon after +daylight the next morning, I alone first went out to reconnoitre. +Fortunate it was that I did so, for on reaching the edge of the forest I +found the fire still burning where our pursuers had camped, and I had +little doubt that they were watching for the man who had killed their +hound. I therefore turned back, so that I could keep concealed among +the trees, and before long I caught sight of them in the distance. This +showed me that it would be prudent to remain in our cavern another day, +until the fellows had got weary of looking for me. I was thankful that +they had no Indians with them, or they would have tracked me without +difficulty. In the afternoon I again went out, making my way +cautiously, lest I should come upon them. I had made up my mind to +proceed by myself some way to the northward until I could reach a +settler's hut, from whom I could learn whether the Kentuckians had gone +on or turned back again, when I caught sight of them in the distance, +making apparently for the very spot where they had rested the previous +night. They had evidently ascertained from someone or other that the +black and I had not gone that way. My only course was to return to the +cave and to remain there in the hopes of tiring out our pursuers. +Though they were determined fellows, they knew nothing of the country, +and were completely at fault without their hound. + +"As we had plenty of provisions, we could remain another whole day, by +which time I hoped to find the coast clear. Once more I went out, +leaving my knapsack with Dio, and taking only my rifle and ammunition. +Instead of following the path I had pursued on previous occasions, I +made a circuit to the right towards a hill, from whence I expected to +catch sight of the spot where the Kentuckians had camped. Should I see +no smoke ascending, I might hope that they had abandoned the search and +gone homewards. I had nearly reached it, and was proceeding perhaps +with less caution than before, when I came full in sight of the fellows. +I knew them at once, and was still more convinced who they were by +hearing a ball whistle past my ears. Although I might have shot one of +them in return, I had no wish to take the life of a fellow-creature, but +determined to trust to my heels. Off I set therefore as fast as I could +run, and calculated that I knew the country better than they did, and +that I could keep well ahead, thus drawing them away from Dio's +hiding-place. My intention was afterwards to return, and, together with +the black, to continue the journey. On they came after me, and I could +hear their voices shouting for many a mile, showing that they were still +following. I have never had such a run in my life, but I have the +satisfaction of believing that I have assisted Dio to make good his +escape, and if they come here, you will be able to assure them that you +have no slave concealed within your doors." + +My father highly approved of Mr Tidey's conduct and the courage and +judgment he had exhibited. We had now to consider the best way of +relieving Dio, who was certain to remain in the cave until some one came +from us. Mr Tidey was too much knocked up to set off immediately, so +my father gave Dan and me permission to start away by daylight. By +taking a circuitous course, we hoped to avoid the risk of meeting the +Kentuckians, should they be still on the watch for the black. We were +to try and reach the cave by nightfall, which, as we knew the spot and +the country thoroughly, we expected easily to do. We were looking out +all the evening for a visit from Mr Tidey's pursuers, but for some +cause or other they did not appear; had they done so, we were prepared +to give them a warm reception. Besides our guest and Uncle Denis, our +father, Dan and I, we had in the house, Martin Prentis the overseer, and +Peter, all of whom were well able to handle their rifles, while Biddy +was as likely to make as good a fight of it as anyone of us with her +broomstick or a hot poker, which she had kept in the stove for the +purpose. + +The evening, however, passed away without any disturbance, although we +two or three times heard the dogs barking in the huts of the +farm-labourers, while our own animals in the outbuildings barked in +return. Dan and I got ready for our journey before we lay down to +sleep. Fancying that it was time to start, without waiting for +daylight, we called up Peter to let us out, but we did not arouse the +rest of the family. We agreed to breakfast when we had got some miles +from home, and by making an early start we felt confident that we could +perform the distance easily before sunset. + +"Massa, don't let those white niggers catch you. Better dat Boxer go +wid you, he take care if dey come near to let you know. Dey no catch +him asleep," said Peter, as with candle in hand, a red night-cap, and +his striped pink shirt-tails fluttering about his legs, he opened the +door for us to go out. + +"Never fear, Peter, we will keep a sharp look-out for the Kentuckians," +answered Dan; "if they show fight, we shall be ready for them; we know +how to shoot as well as they do." + +Following Peter's advice, we went to the stables and released Boxer, who +leaped round and round, trying to lick our faces with pleasure at the +thought of a day's sport, which he supposed we were about to give him. +We had our knapsacks on our backs with our usual camp traps, besides a +good supply of provisions, as we must remain out one night, and should +probably have to stay with Dio until Mr Tidey could return to escort +him on his journey. We had not proceeded more than two or three hundred +yards when Boxer gave a low growl, and then breaking into a fierce bark, +dashed forward. + +"Curse that dog, he'll be waking up the people, and may be fixing his +fangs into the throat of one of us," exclaimed some one in a gruff +voice, who was concealed apparently behind a snake fence some little way +off. + +"I'll stick my bowie-knife into him, if he comes near me," said another +person. + +Dan was about to cry out and call the dog back, but I stopped him in +time. + +"Keep silence!" I whispered, "those must be the Kentuckians; they are +on the watch, probably intending to make a rush for the door when Biddy +opens it in the morning, hoping to surprise the rest of the family in +bed. The best thing we can do is to go back and let our father know +what we have discovered: crouch down so that they may not see us. I +suppose they have been creeping forward to get close up to the house +without being discovered." + +The loud barking of the dog prevented any risk of my voice being heard, +which, low as I spoke, it might have been in the still night air. The +men, whoever they were, did not fire, probably because they could not +catch sight of Boxer, who was rushing from side to side, concealed among +some low shrubs and thick grass. I hoped when he found that we were +returning, he would also retreat and avoid the risk he was running of +being shot. + +We hurried back, Boxer still keeping up his barking, preventing our +footsteps being heard. + +"But I am afraid poor Boxer will be shot," said Dan. + +"No fear of that; the men, if they wish to surprise us, won't venture to +fire," I observed, "and if we call him it will show them that they have +been discovered; better let him take his chance, he understands what he +is about. While he keeps up his barking, the sound of the door opening +will not be heard." + +We accordingly crept back towards the house, but on reaching it found +that Peter had closed the door, and we had to make our way round to the +window of the room in which he slept. We tapped on the shutter, but +Peter did not answer. + +"He has fallen asleep again, the lazy fellow!" said Dan in a low voice. + +We knocked louder and louder. + +"Who dare?" at length asked a voice from within. + +"Open the window and I will tell you," I said in a whisper, but +sufficiently loud for Peter to hear me, I hoped. + +"Who dare?" he again asked. + +"Open the window, quick, quick," I repeated, putting my mouth to the +chink where the shutters joined. + +"What! Massa Mike!" exclaimed Peter, "is dat you?" + +"Yes, yes, open at once," I answered, almost losing patience and +speaking louder than I had hitherto done. + +At that moment Boxer had ceased barking. Scarcely had the words left my +mouth than I feared that we might have been heard by the Kentuckians. + +Boxer again burst out into a furious bark, very much nearer to us, +showing that he was retreating before the foe. By this time Peter had +opened the shutter, and, assisted by the black, Dan and I scrambled in +at the window. As we did so we heard footsteps, when Boxer, who was a +prudent dog, as well as a brave one, feeling that he had done his duty +in warning us and should be safer inside the citadel than outside, with +one bound followed us into the room. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +THE ATTACK ON UPHILL--MY FATHER'S WARNING--THE BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT-- +OUR VICTORY--A COWARDLY REVENGE--MR. TIDEY ACTS AS SCOUT--MR. MCDERMONT +RENEWS HIS PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE OUR FARM--WE RESOLVE TO GO WEST--UNCLE +DENIS DECIDES TO JOIN US--AN EXPEDITION TO DIO'S RELIEF--WE DISCOVER THE +CAVE--WE FIND DIO--HIS DELIGHT AT THE PROSPECT OF RETURNING--TOO WEAK +FOR THE JOURNEY--OUR ARRIVAL HOME--PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE--UNCLE +DENIS WITH US AGAIN--THE MARCH COMMENCED--CROSS THE ILLINOIS RIVER--ON +THE PRAIRIES OF MISSOURI--"WESTWARD HO!"--POSSIBILITIES OF DANGER--THE +PROPER PLACE TO CAMP--THE WAY TO BIVOUAC--THE REAR-GUARD. + +No sooner was Boxer safe inside the room, than Peter began hurriedly to +close the shutter, when we heard the report of a gun, and a bullet with +a loud thud struck it. Fortunately the wood was thick, or one of us +might have been shot. Peter, quick as lightning, closed the shutter and +put up the bar. + +"Dem rascally Kentuckians do dat!" he exclaimed; "hand me your rifle, +massa, and me pay dem back. Stan' by to open de shutter for me to +fire." + +"No, no, Peter," I said; "the men are not likely to show themselves, and +the other is sure to fire the instant he sees the window open." + +The shot had aroused my father and mother and the rest of the household, +and we heard my father and Uncle Denis calling to each other. Peter +having struck a light, we went into the hall, where we all soon +assembled, with the exception of my mother and Kathleen, when I narrated +what had occurred. + +"The fellows are bent on mischief, there can be no doubt about that," +said my father. "They are probably not aware how many there are of us +in the house, and expect to force their way in without much opposition." + +Uncle Denis proposed rushing out and getting hold of the fellows who had +fired, supposing that they were waiting for others to come up before +attacking the house. My father, however, advised that we should remain +within doors. + +"If we go out the fellows will see us, and may pick us off with ease, +while, on the other hand, they cannot approach without showing +themselves, and we shall be perfectly justified in shooting them down +should they come with hostile intent." + +My father's first care was to place my mother and Kathleen in safety, +and to insist on their going into a store-closet, to which no bullets +could penetrate should any pierce the shutters. Black Rose begged leave +to accompany them, but Biddy indignantly refused to hide herself, +declaring that she only wished "the spalpeens" would show their ugly +faces at the door, and she would put some marks on them which they would +carry to their graves. Having thus expressed herself, she hastened into +the kitchen, where she lighted the fire, blowing away with all her might +to get the poker into a red heat. + +My father's first care was to set one of us to watch at the window of +each room, to give the alarm should any attempt be made to force them, +while he himself stood at the front entrance. Peter was posted at the +rear of the house. Loop-holes had been formed in the shutters through +which we could look and see what was taking place outside. They had +slides so that they could be closed in an instant. As no lamps were +left burning in any of the rooms, those outside could not distinguish +the small openings, while the moon, though waning, afforded light +sufficient to enable us to see anyone moving about round the house. + +Our preparations for defence were made in a shorter time than I have +taken to describe them. I was looking through the loophole in my +window-shutter in the front of the house when I saw a person stealing +cautiously forward along the road which led to it. I could make out +that he had a rifle in his hand, which he was holding ready for action. +Presently half-a-dozen more men came in sight, when their leader stopped +until they got up with him. I instantly called out to my father that +the enemy were close upon us. + +"We must be certain that they come with hostile intent. Let no one fire +until I give the word," he said; "I will speak to them first, and hear +what they want." + +There was little doubt about that, however; before my father could open +the loophole, a thundering blow was dealt with the trunk of a tree +against the door, making it shake on its hinges, though the tough wood +held firm. + +"Who dares thus attack my house?" shouted my father; "off with you, or +take the consequences." + +A shower of bullets which pinged against the door and walls on either +side was the reply. Our assailants, disappointed in their first attempt +to break open the door, hoped to alarm us into submission. + +"Open the door, and let us in; we come on lawful business to look after +a runaway slave, and have him we will, alive or dead, although we burn +your house about your heads," shouted one of the men outside. + +Uncle Denis thought from the sound of the voice that it was Mr Bracher +himself who spoke. + +"We have no runaway slave within, but open the door we will not; so if +you again make the attempt to force it, your blood be on your own +heads," answered my father in a firm voice. + +"That's all empty boast," was the answer; "if you hurt any of our men, +not one of you shall escape with your lives." + +"Faith! we're wasting time talking to the fellows," cried Uncle Denis; +"let's begin to treat them as they deserve. If they don't go away, I'll +knock over that big blackguard Bracher, and his crew will soon be taking +to their heels if they haven't him to lead them on." + +My father, although a soldier, was as averse as any man to shedding +blood. + +"We will show them that they are not likely to succeed, and that they +will pay dearly for the attempt if they again try to break open the +door," he said. "Mr Bracher," he shouted, "understand that I don't +wish to be your enemy, and have no unkind feeling towards you. You have +made an unwarrantable attack on my house. No harm has as yet come of +it. If you will go peaceably away I will overlook the insult and take +no further steps in the matter; but if not, I once for all warn you that +I am well prepared to defend my house, and that you will pay dearly +should you try to enter it. I again say your slave is not within my +doors, so that you will gain nothing if you succeed, which you have no +chance of doing." + +My father in speaking this had some hopes of inducing the Kentuckians to +change their intentions, and at all events he might prolong the time so +that daylight would surprise them before they should recommence the +attack. It would then be more easy to distinguish the leaders and shoot +them down, when the rest would in all probability beat a hasty retreat. + +Of this Silas Bracher, if he was there in person, was probably aware. +In spite of the warning the Kentuckians had received, they, supposing +perhaps from our not having fired that we had no ammunition, or were +afraid of doing so, again assaulted the door with their battering-ram; +it, however, as before, stoutly withstood the thundering blows they +bestowed on it. + +"If they will have it they must," at length exclaimed my father; and +scarcely were the words out of his mouth than Uncle Denis, the overseer, +and our guest fired. I was going to fire when my father shouted to Dan +and me not to pull a trigger. A cry arose from the midst of our +assailants, followed by a loud shout. + +"Death to all within the house! Batter in the door, boys; a few strokes +and it will be done." + +The ram thundered against the door. I at that moment looked through my +loophole, and I caught sight of a party in reserve, who the next instant +sent a shower of bullets rattling against the shutters and walls, one +shot narrowly missing my head as it whistled through the loophole. I +therefore thrust out my rifle and fired in the direction from whence the +shot came. Whether or not I had hit anyone I could not tell. I was too +well-trained a sportsman to lose a moment before again reloading. All +our little garrison were now engaged in firing and loading as fast as +they could. My father kept his post at the door, and Uncle Denis and +the overseer stationed themselves at the windows nearest to him on +either side, ready, should the door be burst open, to assist in driving +back the miscreants, while Biddy remained intently watching the +proceedings, with her hand on the red-hot poker, prepared to help in the +defence. As I could not bring my rifle to bear on the party with the +battering-ram, I contented myself with firing at those in the distance, +but as they kept as much as possible under cover, I could not tell +whether my shot took effect. The blows which the door received +threatened every instant to break it in, and I suspected that we should +have a fearful struggle before we should succeed in driving back our +assailants. Their cries and shouts increased. Excited with rage and +disappointment they rushed again and again to the assault. The firing +also became hotter and hotter. Fortunately, so well sheltered were all +our party, as we only went to the window to fire, then retreating behind +the walls, that not one of us had hitherto been hurt. From the sounds +which reached my ears I believed that the rifles of those of the +garrison who commanded the entrance were taking effect. Presently, +after another attempt to break open the door, I saw our assailants in +the grey light of morning beating a rapid retreat and dragging along +with them three or four of their number who had been either killed or +badly wounded. + +"Victory, victory?" shouted Uncle Denis, "Erin-go-braugh, I knew we +should do for the audacious villains. Hurrah, hurrah?" The rest of us +echoed his shout, including Biddy from the kitchen, while she flourished +her red-hot poker above her head. + +My father hastened to assure my mother and Kathleen that we were safe +for the present, while we all shook hands round, congratulating +ourselves on our victory. + +"We must not be too certain that we have got rid of them altogether," +observed my father; "those Kentuckians are persevering fellows. If they +think they have a chance of success they will be at us again." + +Increasing daylight enabled us to see for some distance around the +house, but no one could we discover. We all began to believe that they +had finally gone away, when Peter, who was looking through a window at +the side of the house exclaimed-- + +"See, massa, see! look dare!" + +A bright flame shot up, its size rapidly increasing. It was in the +direction of a barn in which a quantity of corn and other produce was +stored. + +"The scoundrels have set it on fire in revenge!" exclaimed Uncle Denis; +"let's be out and after them." + +"The very thing they would wish us to do," observed my father; "probably +one of their objects in firing the building was the hope that we should +rush out to extinguish the flames. Provided the fire does not extend, +it will be wiser to remain here." + +Uncle Denis agreed that my father was right. That he was so we +afterwards ascertained from one of the farm-labourers who had cautiously +followed the Kentuckians. + +The sun at length rose, when Mr Tidey insisted on going out to learn +whether they had actually taken their departure. To this my father +consented, and the Dominie set off with his rifle, accompanied by Boxer. +On going out, he found numerous splashes of blood in the front near the +battering-ram, showing that the Kentuckians had been deservedly punished +for the outrage. + +We had reason to be thankful that we had all escaped without injury. +Towards evening Mr Tidey came back bringing the satisfactory +intelligence that he had traced the retreating party to the Ohio. + +Severe as was the lesson they had received, it was but too probable that +they would return and take another opportunity of wreaking their +vengeance on our heads. My father was a brave man, and had he been +alone would have remained and defended his property to the last, but he +thought of the danger to which my mother and we were exposed, and this +made him more willing than he otherwise would have been, to listen to +the proposal of Mr McDermont. + +"You'll be after having a troubled life of it here, captain," observed +our guest, the next day. "For my part I am not altogether unaccustomed +to such proceedings in the old country, and have no wife or children to +be troubled about, and should rather like the excitement of the sort of +life I should have to lead here for a year or two, until I have taught +the Kentuckians to leave me alone in peace. This makes me bold to offer +you a price for your farm, should you be disposed to move farther +westward or northward, out of their way. I know how to deal with +fellows of their character, though I should be puzzled if I had redskins +to guard against, or a new country to clear. What say you now to twenty +thousand dollars? It will go a long way westward. I am aware that your +farm, under other circumstances, would be worth more than that. Should +you accept my proposal, I would advise you not to migrate to +Swampyville. You have the advantage of my experience in that matter," +he added, laughing. + +My father took time to consider Mr McDermont's proposal, and he and +Uncle Denis had a long consultation on the subject. He finally decided +to accept the offer, and greatly to his satisfaction Uncle Denis told +him that he had made up his mind to part with his farm in Kentucky and +to cast in his lot with us. + +"I wish that I had done so years ago," he said. "I had an offer just +before I left home: I shall not be long in settling the matter." + +Our uncle was a man of action, and observing that he should give Mr +Bracher a wide berth, and promising to return in a few days, at once set +about making preparations for a start. + +Mr McDermont was ready to purchase the furniture and everything we did +not require. Dan and I meantime set off to try and find poor Dio, and +either to escort him on his way to Mr Grey's, or should he desire to +return, to bring him back with us, as my father considered that for the +present he would run no risk of being captured, and he might prefer +continuing with us to seeking his fortune among strangers. We gladly +undertook the duty, having little doubt of what he would like to do. + +"I am afraid the poor fellow must have been starving all this time, as +the provisions Mr Tidey left with him can scarcely have lasted more +than couple of days," observed Dan as we trudged along. + +"He had his rifle, you must remember," I answered, "and although he may +not be a very good shot, he will be able to knock over a few birds or a +racoon, or an opossum, and there are berries in abundance growing in the +neighbourhood of the cave." + +Although I said this, I was well aware that there were many dangers to +which Dio might have been exposed. Wolves or bears while prowling about +might have found him asleep, or he might have fallen into the hands of +Indians, or he might have been discovered by white men, who, suspecting +him to be a runaway slave, might have secured him in the hope of +obtaining a reward for bringing him back. There was also the +possibility, should he have finished his provisions, that he might have +been afraid of going out in search of more, and that he might be +suffering from starvation. We therefore hurried on as fast as our legs +could carry us. We did not pass a single farm on our route where we +could obtain assistance should we require it, although there were +several away to the eastward. + +In spite of the utmost exertions we could make, it was nearly sunset +before we reached the neighbourhood of the cave. We looked about, no +sign of Dio could we discover, not the slightest trail to show that he +had left the cavern or that anyone had entered it. So far this was +satisfactory. Though we knew the locality, the mouth of the cavern +itself was not very easy to find. We had therefore to hunt about for +some time, until at length we discovered the bushes which grew in front +of it, when we at once began to creep through them; we crawled on till +we found ourselves in the mouth of the cave. Mr Tidey had minutely +described the spot where he had left Dio. We groped our way forward +expecting to see the light from his fire, but not a gleam came forth +from any of the passages to direct us. + +"Oh, suppose a bear and her cubs are hid away anywhere, what shall we +do?" exclaimed Dan. + +"Shoot the bear and knock the cubs on the head," I answered, although I +knew that was more easily said than done. + +Dan and I called to Dio in vain. Again I shouted, "Dio, Dio, answer us, +pray do, if you are here." + +"Listen! I hear a voice; it's very faint, but not far off," said Dan. + +I stopped shouting, and distinctly heard the words-- + +"Here, massa, here, all in de dark; dis niggar bery sick." + +On this I struck a match, and by its faint light I saw a figure lying on +the ground in a recess of the cave. There were a number of sticks +collected for fire-wood piled up close to him, so putting the match to +some dry leaves which we swept up together, we quickly had a blaze. + +"What has happened, Dio?" I asked, kneeling down by his side. + +"No matches, massa," answered Dio; "and him eat up all de food Massa +Tidey left. For two days him had noting to put in him mouth." + +"You shall have something then without delay," I said, giving him a +bottle, which I had fortunately filled at the last spring we had passed. +He eagerly swallowed a draught, and we then produced the provisions we +had brought. Though weak from his previous illness, the poor black was +not so far gone as to be unable to eat a hearty meal. This quickly +revived him. He told us that his fear of being captured by the +emissaries of his old master had prevented him going out in search of +food, and that he had imprudently on the first day consumed the +provisions left by Mr Tidey, which, eked out, might have lasted almost +to the present time. His joy at hearing that the Kentuckians had been +defeated, greatly assisted to recover him, although he expressed his +regret that we should have been exposed to danger on his account. When +we told him we had come to escort him on his way to Mr Grey's, his +countenance fell. + +"But my father says we may take you back, if you are willing to +accompany us to the west, where we shall be at a distance from the +slave-states," I added. + +"With all dis niggar's heart," exclaimed Dio; "me go whar' massa go; +right 'way to de Rocky Mountains, if him like." + +We spent the night in the cavern, neither wolves nor bears showing their +noses, and the next morning Dio, after a good breakfast, declared that +he was well able to go back to Uphill. On seeing him attempt to walk, +however, I judged that it would be prudent to let him take another day's +rest, while we went in search of game and obtained some more water from +a spring which rose at some distance from the cave. + +We had capital sport, and a fat turkey which I shot put some more +strength into Dio's muscles. We were very happy in our roomy cave, +which was large enough to afford shelter to a dozen families, and we +agreed that we should like to spend several days there. However, we +were wanted at home, and Dio having completely recovered, we set off at +daybreak the following morning. + +We stepped out so briskly, that although we made a circuit to avoid the +risk of falling in with strangers on the high road, we reached home soon +after sunset. We found the preparations for our departure much +advanced. My father had procured four waggons and several teams of +stout oxen, which were considered more suitable than horses for +traversing the prairies, as being hardier and better able to go a long +distance without water. My father, Mr Tidey, and I had a horse +a-piece, and Uncle Denis would, of course, bring his own with probably +half-a-dozen more for some of the men. + +Martin Prentis was to remain with the purchaser of the property; indeed, +without his assistance, Mr McDermont would have been badly off. Our +overseer promised, however, when his services were not required, to join +us. + +Three days after our return Uncle Denis arrived, bringing with him +several white men, among whom was his overseer, and two blacks, slaves +whom he had emancipated with the promise that they should labour for him +until they had paid the price of their freedom. "We shall see whether +they prove faithful or not," he remarked, as he described his +arrangements. Besides them Uncle Denis was accompanied by his overseer, +who, not being required on the farm, was in search of employment. +Greatly to our satisfaction, just as we were on the point of starting, +Martin Prentis came forward and offered to give up his situation to +Uncle Denis's overseer, Tom Sykes, if Tom would take it, and Mr +McDermont would agree to the arrangement. This he did, and it was +settled that Martin should accompany us, so that altogether we formed a +pretty large, well-armed party. We all had rifles, and a brace of +pistols, besides long knives in our belts, and my father and Uncle Denis +wore their swords. + +Our uncle's followers, including Sam Hodding, his factotum, were sturdy +fellows, and if some of them were not very bright, they were all, he +said, as true as steel, while he believed that the two blacks, +influenced by gratitude, would prove perfectly faithful. + +He brought word that Mr Bracher was said to be very ill. We suspected +that he was suffering from a wound he had received while attacking our +house. There was some fear, should he hear of our intended departure, +that he might for the purpose of revenging himself, send a party to +follow us up and attack us while on the move. + +"Never fear, friends," said Mr McDermont, when the subject was spoken +of, "I'll keep an eye on the proceedings of the gentleman, and if I hear +of any suspicious characters going in the direction you are travelling, +I'll dodge their steps and come to your assistance. They'll not follow +you far, if they follow at all, so I don't think that you need have much +fear of being troubled by them." + +We exchanged kind farewells with our new friend, and not without many a +regret at leaving Uphill commenced our march. We all knew that it would +be a toilsome one and not free from danger, but my father had +determined, that as he was moving he would move far west, where the +curse of slavery was unknown. + +The waggons I have mentioned were of a stronger build than those before +described. They had high tilts which made them comfortable +sleeping-places at night. My father and Uncle Denis rode alongside the +leading waggon, in which my mother, Kathleen, Biddy, and Rose travelled, +and Dan condescended when tired to take his seat with them. Martin +Prentis drove the first, Sam Hodding the second, Peter the third, and +some of our other men the rest. Mr Tidey and I brought up the rear. + +For some days we kept Dio inside, lest he might be recognised and an +attempt made to carry him off. Boxer and Toby generally scampered on +ahead, coming back every now and then, and giving a loud bark as if to +hurry on the train. + +We moved but at a slow pace, for although the patient oxen could travel +on for many miles without growing weary, it was impossible to make them +advance out of a steady walk. We proceeded northward, having the mighty +Mississippi on our left, until we reached the banks of the Illinois +river, which we crossed in flat-bottomed boats, and then proceeding +several days' journey westward, entered the wide prairies of Missouri, +the vast river from which the state takes its name being to the south of +us. We were now truly in the wilderness, but "Westward Ho!" was our +cry. We had numerous dangers to guard against; prairie fires might +occur and envelope us in their deadly embrace; hostile Indians might +attack us and attempt to carry off our cattle during the night: when +crossing rivers floods might come down and overwhelm us; or packs of +fierce wolves might seize any of our oxen straying from the +neighbourhood of the camp; but the fear of such contingencies did not +deter my father and uncle, who had made up their minds to move on until +they could find a region suited to their taste. Many had done the same +and failed, others had succeeded, and they hoped to be ranked among the +latter. + +Our mode of camping at night, having reached a spot near water, was, to +form a square with our waggons, leaving an opening through which the +cattle might be driven in case of an attack; if close to a broad and +deep stream, the water served for one side and the camp could thus be +made of larger size. The fires were lighted in the centre, and two or +more men were always posted outside to give due notice of the approach +of a foe. We had brought a tent for my mother and Kathleen, which was +of course pitched inside the square, that they might enjoy more room +than their waggon afforded, although that was made as comfortable as +circumstances would permit for sitting in during the day-time. In case +of being attacked by Indians, the goods in the waggons would serve, we +hoped, as protection against their arrows or even the bullets of those +possessed of fire-arms. + +We always did our best to reach a spot of this description before +sunset. Our first duty was to water the horses and cattle, then to +hobble the former. This was done by fastening the fore and hind-legs on +one side with an iron chain, a leathern strap passing round the fetlock. +They were then turned loose to graze, their instinct inducing them, +provided there was plenty of grass, to remain close to the camp. We +then set to work to get wood for our fires, after filling the kettles +with water; the salt meat was then put on to boil, or when we had game, +that was spitted and placed on forked sticks to roast. We each of us +had our various duties to attend to, some made up the beds with blankets +and buffalo robes; one man roasted the coffee berries in a frying-pan +and prepared them for boiling in a primitive fashion by wrapping them in +a piece of buffalo or deer-skin and pounding them with the back of a +hatchet. + +As soon as the coffee was boiled and the meat cooked we all turned to +with good appetites, our mother, Kathleen, Biddy, and Rose, seating +themselves on some of the lighter packages, which were taken from the +waggons for the purpose. + +After a few days' travelling we got so accustomed to the style of life +we were leading, that having encountered no serious difficulties we +began to hope that the dangers we had heard of were more imaginary than +real, and that we should after all perform our journey with ease and +safety. Silas Bracher had either received no notice of our departure, +or he did not suppose that Dio was with us, for we had travelled a +hundred miles or more northward without seeing any of his people. Mr +Tidey and I, however, as we rode in the rear, kept a look-out for them; +and had they come up with our train they would have found us well +prepared to give them a warm reception. It was satisfactory, however, +at length to believe that there was no risk of an encounter with them. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +DAN'S EAGERNESS FOR ADVENTURES--MOSQUITOS--A TEMPEST BREWING--THE STORM +UPON US--RISING OF THE RIVER--THE FLOOD--A FEARFUL FLASH--DIO TAKES THE +LEAD--A MISERABLE NIGHT--STRANGERS IN CAMP--RUMOURS OF INDIANS-- +FOLLOWING UP THE TRAIL--THE PLUNDERED EMIGRANT TRAIN--THE WOLVES--A +PRAIRIE FLOWER--ALONE IN THE DESERTED CAMP--NEW DANGERS--A SURPRISE FOR +MY MOTHER--THE HALT--GRAVES BY THE WAYSIDE--THE ONLY RECORDS OF THE +SLAIN--"LILY'S MOTHER SLEEPS HERE." + +"I say, Mike, I thought by this time that we should have fought half a +dozen battles with the redskins, killed no end of buffalo and deer, +unkennelled black bears and grizzlies without number, and trapped +beavers and racoons and 'possums by scores!" exclaimed Dan, as we were +seated round our camp-fire. + +"Wait a bit, my boy, until we get farther on our journey," remarked Mr +Tidey, who overheard Dan, "we shall have adventures enough then to +satisfy you, and enable Mike to fill up his journal to overflowing, +though, for my part, I confess I shall be very glad, as I suspect will +be your father and mother, if we get through without them." + +"Not much chance of that," I observed, "or we shall be an exception to +the general rule. I hope, however, if we do meet with hostile Indians, +that we may be able to beat them off. Martin Prentis, who has been a +good deal among them, says that they are arrant cowards, and will only +attack people when they find them unprepared." + +We were, I should have said, encamped in our usual fashion, near a +stream, that we might obtain as much water as we required. Along the +bank was a belt of trees with a copse, which afforded us a supply of +fire-wood. The weather had been exceedingly hot, and scarcely had we +halted than we had to encounter an enemy for which we had not bargained. +Swarms of mosquitos attacked us the moment we left the protecting smoke +of the fire, buzzing round our heads in countless numbers, stinging our +faces and hands and such parts of our legs and ankles as were exposed. +Fortunately my mother had some mosquito curtains, within which she and +Kathleen obtained shelter at night, though we who had no means of +resisting their assaults were so stung that we could scarcely recognise +each other. + +"In my opinion we shall have a storm before long," observed Martin +Prentis, "the way these creatures bite is a pretty sure sign of what is +going to happen." + +Not long after he had made the remark, on looking up at the sky I saw a +thick mass of clouds sweeping across it, the stars rapidly disappearing. +Suddenly the whole horizon was lighted up with flashes of brilliant +flame and reiterated peals of thunder burst forth with fearful loudness. +There was, however, but little wind, and as yet no rain had fallen. As +Martin had advised, my father had the tilts of the waggons carefully +secured with additional ropes over them, as he had also my mother's +tent. The storm drew nearer and nearer. The lightning had hitherto +been at a distance, but now thick bars of fire darted through the air, +remaining visible for many seconds, zigzagging backwards and forwards +before they reached the ground, along which they went hissing like fiery +serpents, sometimes striking into it with loud crashes. Again for a +minute or two all seemed darkness, then once more the whole heaven was +illuminated, the thunder all the time roaring and rattling, now coming +from one direction, now from another. Our terrified horses rushed up to +the camp seeking protection, although the more stolid oxen appeared +indifferent to the uproar. Hitherto the air had been calm. Suddenly a +fierce blast swept across the plain, shaking the awnings of the waggons, +and threatening to bear them off bodily, or tear them to pieces. +Scarcely had the blast struck the camp, than down came the rain. My +mother and Kathleen rushed hurriedly into their tent, followed at their +invitation by Biddy and Rose, while we sought such shelter as the +waggons could afford. That was rain, and not only rain but hail, each +piece of ice the size of a pigeon's egg, some even larger. The rain +fell in no small drops, but in sheets of water, and soon converted our +camp into a pond, the spot on which my mother's tent stood happily +forming an island. With the crashing of the thunder, the roar of the +wind, and the fierce pattering of the rain, we could scarcely hear each +other speak. We were thankful that we had already encamped before the +storm came on. Hour after hour it raged without giving any sign of +diminution. I was seated alongside Uncle Denis, wrapped up in a buffalo +robe in one of the waggons nearest to the river, which we could +occasionally see by stretching out our necks beyond the canvas as the +flashes of lightning darted across it. + +"Mike, does it strike you that the water has risen higher than it was +when we first encamped? Watch for the next flash, and tell me what you +think." + +I did as he directed me. + +"It seems to me almost up to the top of the bank," I answered. + +"I hope it won't come higher, then," he said, "for if it does, we shall +have to harness up, and seek for a more elevated position to spend the +remainder of the night, though it won't be pleasant to have to move +while the storm lasts." + +Again looking out, and waiting for another flash, it appeared to me that +the water had not only risen to the bank, but had overflowed. It was +meandering in various channels over the ground. + +I told my uncle, who watched as I had done, until he was convinced in +another few minutes that our camp would be completely flooded. He +shouted out to my father, who agreed with him. Our first care was to +get my mother and Kathleen, with their attendants, into their waggon, +and to wrap them up as well as we could. We then, calling to the men, +hurried out, splashing over the wet ground, while the rain came like a +shower-bath down on our heads, to catch the oxen and harness them up. +It was no easy matter to find the animals, as it was only when the +lightning flashed forth that we could distinguish them, so pitchy dark +was the night. First one team was caught, then another and another, we +all shouting at the top of our voices to make ourselves heard. There +was no time to be lost; already the water was almost up to the axles. +At length, however, we got the oxen harnessed and the horses saddled. +First one waggon was drawn out, and then another, but it took some time +before all were ready to move forward. The next point to be considered +was the direction to take. We might possibly only find ourselves on +lower ground, and consequently in deeper water. My father and Uncle +Denis, who had mounted their horses, rode forward, telling us to keep +shouting, that they might find us again. The lightning continued +flashing as before, so that we could see them for a short time as they +rode away. My father had directed me to move on in as straight a line +as we could keep at right angles from the river, and by turning round I +could occasionally get a view of the trees which fringed its banks, +showing me that we were as nearly as possible keeping the course he +wished. Still I felt very anxious. I had remembered passing along a +deep gully which would in all probability be full of water, and before +we were aware of it the leading oxen might tumble in, and perhaps drag +the waggon after them. I told Martin and another man to go to their +heads and feel the way with poles, while the rest of the waggons kept as +close as possible one behind the other. The drivers, however, finding +the water rising, could with difficulty be induced to follow my orders. +Behind us we could hear the sound of the rushing waters as the swollen +river swept along, and at intervals the voices of the men driving the +rear waggons reached my ears, shouting to us to move faster. We were +thus advancing cautiously when I caught sight of a dark object rising up +almost before me and apparently reaching to the sky. It was a tree, but +in the darkness it seemed of gigantic proportions. + +At that moment a vivid flash darted from the clouds, a loud explosion +followed with a deafening crash, and the stout trunk was rent asunder, +the branches falling on every side, the leading oxen narrowly escaping +being crushed. I should have been swept off my frightened horse had he +not sprang forward, trembling in every limb. The flash revealed to me +one of the gullies I had been anxious to avoid. I shouted to the other +men to keep clear of the danger. At the same time a dread seized me +lest my father and Uncle Denis might have ridden into it, and have been +carried away by the boiling current. + +The men replied that they could not see their way, and from the cries +which reached me it was evident that the whole train was in confusion. +The roar of the waters drowned our voices. At that moment another flash +showed me a figure close by my side and I caught the words-- + +"Me show de way, dare high ground little ahead, come 'long." + +It was Dio, who had leapt from the waggon in which he had been seated +and had come to the front, the post of danger. Endowed with a keener +eyesight than the rest of us, during darkness he had distinguished the +ground which we had failed to see. The leading waggon followed him, and +we were soon assured that the ground was rising. Though this was the +case, it might again sink and we should be in a worse position than +before. I was greatly relieved when I heard a shout in reply to ours +and could distinguish the figures of my father and Uncle Denis against +the sky. They had found a spot, not likely to be reached by the water +they believed, where we could camp for the remainder of the night. They +led us to it along the ridge we had gained, avoiding a deep dip, into +which, had we descended, we should have been worse off than before. Of +course we were all wet to the skin; but, while the rain poured down in +bucketfuls as it was doing, we could light no fire to dry our clothes. +Still we were thankful that we had escaped the danger which had +threatened us, and we managed to place our waggons in the usual +position, so that at daylight we might be prepared for enemies should +any appear. When morning broke we had reason to be grateful to Heaven +that we had moved away in time from the bank of the river, for the +ground on which we had encamped was covered with water to the depth +apparently of several feet, while the current swept by with a force +sufficient to have carried our waggons and cattle away. As the day +advanced, the storm ceased, the clouds rolled off and the sun burst +forth, his warm rays soon drying our clothes and the wet tilts of the +waggons. + +The flood had so completely obliterated the trail, that my father and +uncle deemed it prudent either to ride on ahead themselves, or to send +Mr Tidey and me forward to ascertain the proper route to take. They +had gone on in the morning where the road was more difficult, and after +our mid-day stoppage the Dominie and I took the lead. In all directions +were traces of the storm, trees uprooted, the streams flooded, the +ground being covered with broken branches of trees and occasionally we +came across the bodies of animals which had been caught by the current +and drowned. + +As the day was drawing to a close we were looking out for a spot on +which to camp for the night. As I gazed ahead I saw some objects moving +across the plain. + +"Can those be Indians?" I asked, pointing them out to Mr Tidey; "if +so, they may be Sioux or Blackfeet and give us some trouble." + +He reined up his horse, and, shading his eyes with his hand, gazed at +them steadily. "No, that's a waggon, and coming this way too," he +answered, "they may be emigrants who have turned back either because +they have been frightened by Indians, or having lost some of their +cattle by the floods have found it impossible to proceed; supposing the +latter to be the case, they appear to be coming on very rapidly." + +"They seem to me to be running away from enemies," I observed, "however, +we shall soon know." + +"At all events we must try to select our camping-ground before they come +up, or they may occupy it," answered Mr Tidey, "there is a stream to +the right bordered by trees. It is just the spot we want. Ride back, +Mike, and hurry on the waggons. We shall have formed our camp before +the strangers arrive." + +While Mr Tidey rode in the direction towards which he pointed, I +galloped back and gave notice of the approach of a train from the +westward. I had observed an easy pass among the hills which led down to +the stream, and through it I was able to guide our waggons. We reached +the ground selected by Mr Tidey in good time to camp before dark, and +our arrangements had just been concluded when the strangers approached. +As they drew near, my father and I went to meet them, to show them a +spot near ours where they might encamp. Two men, seeing us coming, +advanced towards us: one of them was a sturdy, strong, bold fellow, but +the other had nothing of the backwoodsman about him in appearance. + +"Glad to fall in with you, strangers," said the first; "and if you +follow my advice, you will turn back with us, unless you wish to have +your scalps taken by the Indians or your cattle drowned by the floods, +or if you escape them, to die of hunger and thirst as you travel over +the desert to the westward, though it's my opinion you'll never get many +days journey from this." + +"Your report, friend, is not very encouraging," answered my father, +"though, as I am prepared to encounter some difficulty, I cannot promise +to follow your advice; however, as we shall spend the evening together +we shall hear more of what you have gone through. To save you time, we +looked out for a spot for your camp. You cannot do better than occupy +it." + +The stranger thanked us. "Whereabouts is it?" he asked. + +"It is a little to the westward of where our waggons are drawn up." + +"I'd rather go further east," said the stranger when he saw it, "and +place you between ourselves and the redskins. We've had one battle +already, and to say the truth have no stomachs for another. You may +take your turn next, should they come, and I am not certain that they +will not before daybreak." + +"You are welcome to camp where you like," answered my father, amused at +the stranger's cowardice, of which he did not seem at all ashamed; "we +shall look to you, however, to help us in driving back the redskins if +they make their appearance." + +We, however, assisted the strangers in finding a suitable spot a little +to the eastward of our camp, and in a short time they drew up their +waggons on it. + +As soon as we had finished supper my father and Uncle Denis and I went +over to the strangers' camp, to hear a further account of their +proceedings. + +The story they gave of the dangers they had encountered was sufficiently +alarming to make persons less determined than my father and uncle give +up the expedition they had undertaken. They had narrowly escaped being +carried away by a flood the previous evening, and had been only the day +before surrounded by a body of Indians, with whom, as it turned out, +they had only exchanged shots, when the redskins had retreated without +blood being shed. They mentioned, however, another train of four or +five waggons which had been some way ahead of them, and told us that +they had considerable apprehensions as to their fate. + +"We will hope for the best," said my father, "if the people are prudent +and keep a careful watch, I believe they may easily beat off any Indians +of these parts, who never attack white men unless they can take them by +surprise." + +We did our best to persuade our new acquaintances to turn back once more +with us, but they had so completely lost heart that nothing we could say +had any effect. + +"No, no, friend," answered their leader, "we committed a folly in +leaving our comfortable farm in Ohio. We have made up our minds to be +wiser in future, and look out for another location eastward, beyond the +reach of the Indians. If you are wise, you will do the same." + +"From my experience I should say that we are as likely to be annoyed by +white men as the redskins, and by treating the latter honestly I hope +that we shall gain their friendship and have no cause to dread them," +said my father. + +"You'll act as you judge best, but I have warned you of what you may +have to expect," was the answer. + +We parted the next morning with mutual expressions of good will, and +while the returning emigrants hurried off eastward, we continued our +course to the west, the marks made by their waggon wheels enabling us to +proceed rapidly until we reached the spot where they had encamped the +previous night. Here the truth of their story was corroborated by the +appearance of Indian trails which led away westward. We encamped a +little further on, and of course kept a careful watch at night, but no +enemy appeared. + +Next afternoon Mr Tidey and I were riding ahead followed by Boxer and +another of our dogs--without whom indeed, we never left the camp, as +they were sure to give us timely warning should any Indians be lurking +around. We knew, however, that they would not attack the red-men, of +whom they seemed to have an instinctive dread, but would silently slink +close to us, should any enemies be near. We were looking out, as may be +supposed, for Indian trails, as well as for those of the other emigrant +train of which we had heard, when we saw signs on the ground which at +first puzzled us. We dismounted to examine them more carefully. + +"If we had an Indian guide, he would quickly tell us what they mean," +observed the Dominie. "See, here are oxen and wheel tracks, and these +are the marks of moccasins. I suspect that a party of Indians out on +the war-path have followed the waggons, and I fear after all that the +emigrants were not so far wrong in their conjectures as we supposed. I +only hope the people on ahead have kept a careful watch and beaten back +their wily foe." + +"Let us push on, and try to overtake the Indians before they attack the +train," I said. "When they see another party of white men approaching, +they may judge it prudent to give up their enterprise; and if they +pursue us, our fast horses will enable us easily to keep out of their +way." + +The Dominie, though not blind to the risk we might run, agreed to my +proposal; the ground was open and level, and there was no brushwood +either to the right or left which might conceal a lurking foe. We +accordingly put our horses into a gallop, believing that we should soon +come up with the train, or get sight of the Indians, should they still +be following it. "The redskins will be looking ahead, and will not +discover us until we have seen them," I observed. + +Suddenly the dogs, which had been keeping alongside us, dashed forward, +just at the moment that we, from the unevenness of the ground, were +compelled to pull up. On reaching the summit of one of the undulations +rather than hills, which rise in different parts of the prairie, we saw +some objects in the distance which we both agreed must be waggons. As +we got nearer we saw that two were upset, and that from a third smoke +was ascending, while from another the tilt had been torn off, one only +remaining intact. + +"That must be the train we are in search of," observed the Dominie; "it +has too evidently been attacked by the Indians; but I see no one moving +about. Perhaps the savages caught sight of us, and supposing that we +were at the head of a large party, have gone off. We may be in time to +help some of the poor people, if any have escaped with their lives, +though I fear the worst, as the redskins seldom leave their work half +finished, and the chances are that all the white men have been killed." + +We rode forward as fast as the rugged nature of the ground would allow, +prepared at any moment to wheel round and gallop back should we catch +sight of the savages. + +We hoped, however, as the dogs did not return, that we should have no +trouble on that account. We were still at some distance from the +waggons, when we heard a loud yelping and barking. + +"Those sounds came from a pack of wolves," exclaimed Mr Tidey; "I see +the brutes, they are calling to each other, expecting to enjoy a banquet +on the dead bodies of the slain." + +Directly afterwards we caught sight of the animals making their way +through the brushwood and trees which surrounded the waggons. Above +their hideous yelps we could distinguish the deep honest bark of our own +dogs. Forgetting for the moment the risk we ran of being surprised, we +put spurs to our horses, and galloping over the uneven ground soon got +up to the spot. Neither cattle nor horses were visible, they had +evidently been carried off. The scene which soon met our eyes filled us +with horror. + +On the ground lay half-a-dozen men, each of whom had been scalped and +their bodies partly stripped. Farther on were two or three more, who +had fallen between the waggons. Some of the wolves, more daring than +their companions, had advanced at the head of the pack, and would +already have commenced the horrible repast had not our two noble dogs, +barking furiously, kept them at bay. + +"I am afraid we are too late here to be of any use except to bury the +dead," observed Mr Tidey as we surveyed the melancholy scene. "But +holloa! what is that among the bushes? A woman,--I see her moving. +Perhaps we may be in time to save her." + +Forgetting that the Indians might still be at hand, we dismounted, and +fastening our horses to the wheels of one of the waggons, made our way +through the brushwood. As we did so, a couple of wolves approached from +an opposite direction, and were on the point of seizing the woman's +body, when Boxer and his companion springing forward, they took to +flight. We hurried to the assistance of the poor woman. We now saw +that it was not she who had moved, but a little girl whose arms were +thrown round her. + +"Oh! come help Lily!" exclaimed the child, at once recognising us as +white men: "look up mother! oh, mother, mother! speak to Lily, one word. +White man come to help you, no fear now." + +In vain, however, Lily called to her mother. While I took the child in +my arms, Mr Tidey knelt down by the side of the poor lady. The blood +which flowed from her breast, and dyed the ground on which she lay, too +plainly told that she had received a mortal wound. + +"She is beyond our help," he said; "but I would prevent her body being +devoured by these abominable brutes. Do you carry the child, and I will +convey the poor mother into the nearest waggon. We can cover her up +sufficiently to prevent the wolves getting at her until we return, when +we can bury her decently, as well as the rest of the murdered people." + +I did as he advised, and was making my way to where we had left the +horses, when I heard a loud explosion, and fragments of all sorts came +whizzing through the air: mercifully none of them struck me. I looked +round, and was thankful to see Mr Tidey safe. I had forgotten the +waggon which we had seen burning. The horses, terrified by the sound, +reared and plunged, and broke their bridles. The Dominie, letting the +body fall, rushed after his horse; fortunately catching it, he galloped +after mine in the direction from which we had come, and I found myself +standing alone in the midst of the blackened train, with the little girl +clinging to my neck and crying bitterly for her mother to speak to her, +while the wolves, driven to a distance by the explosion, howled and +yelped around me, though kept from again approaching by the gallant dogs +and the shouts I raised for the purpose of keeping them at bay. + +I felt that I was in a fearful position. At any moment the savages +might return, in the hopes of obtaining more plunder. I had my rifle, +and I determined to defend the little girl and myself to the last. A +new danger arose: the waggon was burning furiously; the flames might +ignite the others, which in all probability also contained kegs of +powder, and it was more than likely that the grass would be set on fire +and the whole prairie would be in a blaze. Not only should I and my +young companion lose our lives, but my friends would be exposed to the +most fearful danger. I must endeavour, I saw, to make some effort to +prevent the catastrophe; but I had not the heart to force the little +girl's arms from around my neck, and to place her on the ground. I +endeavoured to tranquillise her by every means I could think of. At +last I bethought me of placing her in the only waggon which remained +upright. + +"Stay quiet there, Lily," I observed; "no one will hurt you, and I will +come back as soon as possible. I want to try and put out that fire, or +it will do us harm." + +"Don't leave me, don't leave me," cried Lily; but as she did not resist. +I placed her in the waggon, and begged her to be quiet, while I seized +a long stick which lay on the ground, and rushing up to the fire, beat +out the flames which already rose from the grass. Mercifully it was not +so thick there as in other places a short distance off. I rushed round +and round the burning mass, now and then being just in time to reach a +snake-like line of flame which was extending towards the brushwood or in +the direction of the tall grass, which, had it gained, nothing could +have stopped the dreaded catastrophe. I was thus engaged when I heard a +loud holloa! For a moment I thought the Indians were upon me, but on +looking up, I saw Mr Tidey, leading my horse and followed by Uncle +Denis. They were soon up to me, and leaping from their steeds, without +stopping to ask questions, commenced stamping out the smouldering fire, +which a sudden puff of wind might soon have raised again into a flame. +Not until they had succeeded in overcoming the threatened danger did +they speak a word. Uncle Denis then told me that they had heard the +report; and fearing that we might be exposed to danger, he had galloped +forward to ascertain the cause, leaving the waggons under the command of +my father, who had made every preparation for resistance in case they +should be attacked by the Indians. He had seen Mr Tidey catch my +horse, and had been very anxious lest some accident should have befallen +me. A few words served to explain what had happened, and I then hurried +back to poor little Lily. + +"We are safe now, Lily," I said, "and you must come with me. Do you +think you could sit on my horse, while we gallop over the ground?" + +"Oh yes, Lily often used to sit on Uncle John's horse. I not afraid," +she answered. "But mother, where is mother?" + +"That other man will take care of her," I answered evasively. "Come, I +want to carry you to friends; I've got a little sister, who would be so +glad to see you, and so will my mother. She, I know, will take care of +you." + +"Lily will go with you," she answered. + +Mounting my horse, I called to Uncle Denis to place Lily in front of me +on the saddle. + +"Go on, Mike," he said; "we will do as Mr Tidey proposed with the poor +lady, and follow close behind you. The sooner we rejoin the waggons the +better, for one can never tell what tricks the redskins may play us. +Tell your father that I think he had better camp as soon as he can find +a suitable spot." + +I did not stop for further directions, but rode off as fast as I could +venture to go, holding Lily tightly with my right arm round her waist +before me. I very naturally, as I rode along, kept a look-out on either +side, half expecting to see a party of Indians creeping forward to cut +me off. I was thankful when I caught sight of the waggons approaching +with my father at their head. His astonishment at beholding my young +companion was very great. I stopped but for a moment to tell him what +had occurred. He ordered the waggons to halt, that I might give Lily +over to my mother. She and Kathleen uttered exclamations of surprise at +seeing the little girl, while Dio, who was on foot, ran forward and +lifted her into the waggon. + +"This is my mother, Lily," I said, "and my little sister Kathleen; I am +sure they will be kind and love you very much." + +"That we will," said my mother, as Lily, looking up in her face, smiled +faintly; but she had been too much frightened to speak. As I left her +in my mother's arms I whispered-- + +"I will tell you by-and-by how I found her, but don't ask her any +questions now, mother." I made a sign, which I think she understood, to +show her that something very dreadful had occurred. + +Without stopping further, I returned to my father, to whom I gave my +uncle's message, and as we rode along I told him what had happened. We +had not got far when Mr Tidey and Uncle Denis arrived. I saw that both +my uncle and the Dominie looked unusually anxious. Just as they were +starting they had caught sight of two figures in the distance, which +they had no doubt were Indians who had been watching them; they were +convinced, moreover, that should an opportunity occur, the savages would +attack our camp. + +We pushed on accordingly as fast as we could move, until we got within +about a mile of the place where the emigrants' train had been destroyed. +It was the first spot suitable for camping. Situated in a slight +hollow, four or five hundred yards wide, a deep and pretty broad stream +flowing on the north side, with a small wood or copse to the east, while +to the west and south the ground sloped upwards and then fell again down +to the scene of the catastrophe. We lost no time in unyoking the oxen +and placing the waggons in a square, taking even more than usual +precautions against an attack. As there was plenty of grass round, we +tethered both the cattle and horses close outside the waggons, while +three men were told off to keep watch on the top of the ridge, whence we +could obtain a wide view over the country. We swept it again and again +with our telescopes but could discover no persons moving in the +distance. We both saw and heard, however, the horrible wolves, who only +waited for nightfall to rush in again on the emigrants' camp. + +"I don't like the thought of allowing those poor fellows to be devoured +by the brutes," said Uncle Denis. "What do you say, Tidey? Will you +accompany me, and try to bury them decently? We will go on horseback, +and by keeping a bright look-out, there will be no risk of being +surprised by the redskins, should they venture to return. I should like +especially to pay all the respect we can to that poor lady." + +"With all my heart," answered the Dominie, "and if the captain agrees, +we will take Martin and Dio." + +"And I'll go too," I said, "if my father will allow me." + +As he did not object, we immediately mounted our horses, Uncle Denis and +the Dominie each carrying a spade, and the two men a pickaxe a-piece, +while Boxer and Toby followed at our heels. As we galloped over the +ground, we were not long in reaching the scene of the massacre. Dio, +who had the sharpest eyes amongst us, was stationed to keep a look-out, +while we, securing our horses, at once set about our melancholy task. +We selected a spot under the branches of a wide-spreading oak for the +grave of the poor lady. As the ground was soft it was soon dug. We +then carried the body to it. We were on the point of placing it in, +when the Dominie suggested that we should take off her wedding-ring and +any ornament about her, that they might be given to her daughter, and +that they might also serve to identify her, so that should we have an +opportunity we might inform her relatives and friends of her fate. +Besides the plain gold ring, was another of curious workmanship with an +amethyst set in it, while secured round her neck by a silk ribbon Uncle +Denis discovered a gold locket. Without stopping to examine it he +placed it in his pouch. In the waggon were a few articles for family +use, but we found nothing of value. No letters; no pocket-book which +might serve to tell us who she was; everything had been carried off by +the savages. Her husband, probably, was among the murdered men; and if +we could find his body, we would, we agreed, place it in the grave of +his wife. + +"That's more than we are likely to do," answered Uncle Denis; "let the +poor lady rest alone." + +Accordingly, lifting her up, we placed her in the narrow grave, and +although she was a stranger to me, I confess that I burst into tears as +we hurriedly threw the earth over her. Martin had in the meantime +commenced a larger grave for the men. Had they been our most intimate +friends, we should have been unable to recognise them, so fearfully had +their countenances been disfigured by the savages. The bodies too had +been partly stripped, so that there was little difference in their dress +to help us. In vain we endeavoured to ascertain which was the husband +of the poor lady, and we had no time to devote to a close examination. +We were not long in digging a shallow grave and burying the murdered men +side by side. + +"We must place some logs over the poor lady's grave," said Uncle Denis, +"so that we may know it again." + +Mr Tidey agreed, and all of us plying our axes, we managed to pile up a +number of logs over the spot. Three fallen trees lay near the larger +grave and these we dragged over it, so as to prevent the wolves from +disturbing the dead. Dio had in the meantime been riding backward and +forwards, shouting out whenever he saw any of the brutes approaching: he +was assisted by our two brave dogs, who kept up a constant barking, +showing that they understood the duty required of them. + +The sun had already set, and as the Indians, should they have been +watching us in the distance, might creep up during the darkness, we +mounted our horses and rode back as quickly as we could to the camp. My +first inquiry was for Lily. She had been crying bitterly for her +mother, asking when she would come to her, but had at length fallen +asleep, and was now resting inside the tent in Kathleen's bed. + +While seated round the camp-fire an idea came into my head, I procured a +piece of board, and with my knife commenced carving an inscription. +This I intended fixing the next morning on to the logs above the lady's +grave. It was a question whether I should have an opportunity of +erecting it. We might possibly be attacked by an overwhelming body of +Indians and have to retreat, or perchance share the fate of the +unfortunate people we had buried. As may be supposed, we kept an +anxious watch, although there was less chance of our being attacked in +the camp than while moving on, as the redskins, in spite of their +vaunted bravery, always watch for an opportunity of taking their enemies +by surprise, and finding us prepared for them, would probably keep at a +distance. Having stood my watch during the early part of the night, I +turned in and lay down with my buffalo robe by the side of Dan. I was +awakened by my father's voice arousing the camp. In an instant every +one was on foot, fires were made up, and a hurried breakfast taken. We +then caught and yoked the oxen, and in the grey of morning recommenced +our march. Uncle Denis and the Dominie, acting as scouts, rode a little +way in advance on either side, so as to avoid the risk of a surprise. +My mother kept little Lily in her arms inside the waggons, so that she +could not see the wrecked train. As we approached it Uncle Denis and I +galloped forward to the grave of the poor lady, I carrying the board on +which I had worked the previous evening. Throwing ourselves from our +horses, we nailed it to the large log placed over the head. On the +board I had carved, with the date of her death, "Lily's mother sleeps +here." + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +ACROSS THE PLAINS--THE MARCH OF CIVILISATION--A HALT--THE TRAIL +DISCOVERED--ON THE WAR-PATH--AN OBSTACLE--ARRIVAL AT THE RIVER-- +EXAMINING THE CAMPING-GROUND--AN INACCESSIBLE POINT--ERECTING +FORTIFICATIONS--THE WAY TREES ARE FELLED IN KENTUCKY--STRENGTHENING OUR +POSITION--MR. TIDEY PUTS US ON THE ALERT--RED-SKIN DARING--ROUND THE +CAMP-FIRE--EVIDENT ANXIETY OF MY FATHER AND THE DOMINIE--OUR STRONG +POINT--SETTING THE WATCH--DRIVING IN THE CATTLE--THE LULL BEFORE THE +STORM. + +The next day's journey was an anxious one. We had no doubt that the +Indians were watching us, lurking behind trees or shrubs, although they +did not show themselves. My father directed that all the horses should +be mounted, the men only required to conduct the waggons remaining on +foot. The formidable appearance we thus presented undoubtedly prevented +our enemies from approaching, still we felt sure that should they find +an opportunity of attacking us with advantage, they would be down upon +us. In a few days we hoped to reach one of the numerous forts scattered +over the continent for the protection of the white men, advancing in +constant streams to take possession of the fertile lands to the +westward, which had hitherto served only as the hunting-grounds of the +red-men. It is not surprising that the so-called savages looked with no +friendly eye on the intruders, or should have taken every opportunity of +destroying them, in the vain hope of preventing other following in the +same direction. The idea, however, that we were intruders did not occur +to my father, or to the thousands of other emigrants who were leaving +the Eastern States with the object of forming homes for themselves and +families in the desert. They saw unlimited tracks of a fertile country +stretched out before them without an inhabitant, and they looked upon +the savage red man much in the same light as they looked upon the herds +of buffalo which roam over the prairies. We had halted for our mid-day +rest, without having seen any Indians, though we kept a vigilant +look-out on every side. We began to hope therefore, that, content with +the plunder they had obtained, they had returned with it to their +villages, and that we should reach the fort without being molested. +Still my father was too good a soldier not to keep as constant a watch +as before. As we expected when we arrived at the fort to remain some +days, there would be time for our cattle and horses to rest; we +therefore agreed to push on across the prairie faster than we had +hitherto done, though of course we should be guided as to our +camping-places by the necessary requirements of water, grass, and wood +for fuel. We might thus have to halt earlier in the day than we wished, +or continue on later in the evening. The latter alternative it was +important, if possible, to avoid, as should any Indians be in the +neighbourhood they might attack us. The only means of averting the +danger of being surprised while on the move, was to scout at a greater +range than usual, so as to discover any lurking foes. While travelling +I was seldom able to exchange a word with my mother and Kathleen, but as +soon as we halted, I went to the waggon to inquire how little Lily was +getting on. She at once recognised me. + +"Have you found mother? is she coming back to Lily soon?" she asked. I +pointed to my mother and then to Kathleen. + +"She will be your mother, and Kathleen will be your sister," I answered; +"they will love you very much, as I told you." + +"Yes, they are very kind to Lily, they love Lily I know," she said, +giving Kathleen a kiss. + +"You shall be my new sister; I am so glad to have one," said Kathleen, +returning her embrace. + +Lily smiled, and I knew that though she might not forget her own mother, +she would soon be happy with those who were so anxious to treat her +kindly. Still I observed that she every now and then gave a startled +look around, showing that she had not forgotten the scene she had +witnessed on the previous day. I hoped for her sake as well as for that +of all of us, that she would never again be exposed to so fearful a +danger. + +I should have said that Uncle Denis had given my mother the locket and +rings belonging to the murdered lady. + +"You will take better care of them than I can," he said, a he drew them +out of his pouch wrapped in a piece of buck skin, and handed them to her +without looking at them. "When the little girl is old enough you can +give them to her, and tell her how they were obtained: she will long +before that have forgotten all about the circumstances." + +My mother, not having time to examine them, put them carefully in a bag +containing cherished treasures of her own. + +We had scarcely halted two hours, when my father's voice was heard, +ordering the men to prepare for moving on. The oxen were soon yoked to, +the horses saddled, and we continued our journey across the boundless +plain. + +It was my turn to scout ahead with Mr Tidey. My father had charged us +not to go so far as to run the risk of being cut off from the train. We +therefore frequently halted, especially when we gained the summit of any +of the slight elevations which are frequently met with on the prairie. +I was a short distance ahead when I saw some marks on the ground which I +fancied must be the trail of buffaloes. I waited until my companion +came up, when I pointed them out to him. + +"That's an Indian trail," he said, as he carefully examined the marks. +"See, there are three paths close together at fixed distances apart. I +will tell you how they are produced. The framework of their lodges are +made, as you know, of long poles. These on a journey are tied to each +side of a pony, the ends trailing on the ground. It is very evident +from the way the grass is trampled down, that a long line of ponies has +passed this way, one following the other. The centre line, which is +deepest, you see, is caused by the feet of the ponies and the two outer +lines by the trailing of the poles over the ground. There must have +been women and children with them, which is satisfactory, as it shows +that although the party was a large one, they were not out on the +war-path. They were going northward, crossing our course; whether the +men who attacked the emigrant train belong to them or not, it is hard to +say; perhaps they were the braves of another tribe, and those whose +trail we see were escaping from them." + +"You read the marks as well as an Indian could do," I observed; "and I +have no doubt that you are right." + +"I have given my mind to the subject, and the man who improves his +opportunities in these wilds can soon attain the knowledge possessed by +the redskins. I have met with many white trappers and hunters who were +fully equal to the most sagacious Indian scouts." + +"What do you advise then?" I asked. + +"That we should proceed straight on, as we are going, and keep as strict +a watch at night and as bright a look-out during the day as heretofore. +The poor fellows who have been massacred must have been very careless, +and allowed themselves to be deceived by the Indians. It was evidently +an act of treachery, and I should say that a party of the Indians made +their way into the camp on some pretence or other, probably of trading, +and suddenly attacked their too confiding hosts. I observed that none +of the white men had been killed by bullets or arrows, and it is likely +that the poor lady lost her life by a stray shot from one of her own +party." + +"We had better let my father and Uncle Denis know that we have seen the +trails, and they will judge what is best to be done," I observed. + +"Ride back then, Mike, and tell them what I advise," answered Mr Tidey; +"I will continue to look out ahead. Just say that I think it possible +that another war-party may be pursuing the tribe whose trail we have +seen, and disappointed at not overtaking them, that they may make an +attempt on our camp, or venture to attack us on the march." + +I accordingly galloped back, looking as I did so to the southward, as it +was from that direction the war-party might, I thought, appear. I +however saw no human beings moving in the distance, but I caught sight +of a herd of deer, and greatly longed to be able to go in chase, as we +were much in want of fresh provisions. We had intended to halt for the +purpose of hunting, but the risk of falling in with enemies made my +father deem it prudent not to allow any one to go to a distance from the +camp. I soon got back to the waggons, and reported what Mr Tidey had +said. + +"We will follow his advice," said my father, "and if Indians appear, we +may, I hope, send them to the right-about. We will at all events take +good care not to allow any strangers to enter our camp, or to come +within range of our rifles while we are on the march. Now go, Mike, to +the support of Mr Tidey; but keep in sight, and fall back should you +see any Indians approaching." + +I was soon up with the Dominie. "If all travellers were as cautious as +your father, the redskins would not so often succeed," he observed. + +We were now crossing an elevated plateau with slightly undulating ground +in the far distance. By standing up in our stirrups we could obtain a +wide view over the country on every side. We had not proceeded far when +I saw, away to the southward, what seemed like a huge serpent moving +through the grass, although I knew very well that a serpent it could not +be. I pointed it out to my companion, who carried a telescope at his +back, telling him what I at first thought it like. + +He took a glance through the glass. "The distance deceives you," he +answered, as calmly as if it was a matter of very little consequence, +"that is a band of Indians on the war-path. I am certain of it. They +are moving eastward; probably they are scouts, and long ago have +discovered our waggons. What their intention is, I cannot say, but +possibly it is to get into our rear, without, as they suppose, being +seen. We must keep an eye upon them, but not on any account alter our +course." + +As before, I rode back to tell my father what we had seen. He also had +discovered the war-party, and had determined what to do. The rough map +we possessed showed us that there was a river ahead, but its character +and the position of the fords were indistinctly marked. His object was, +if possible, to cross before nightfall, so as to place it between our +camp and the enemy. From thence a horseman could reach Fort Hamilton by +galloping hard, in three or four days, we calculated, and should the +Indians appear in overwhelming numbers, we might send forward for +assistance. Either Mr Tidey or Uncle Denis would be ready to undertake +the expedition. Just as I was about to rejoin him, Mr Tidey fell back +to consult with my father and uncle. At that moment too Dio came up +from the rear, where he had been stationed; to tell us that he had made +out another numerous party of Indians following our trail, but that they +were still so far off that some time must elapse before they could +overtake us. On hearing this my father hurried to the rear, to take a +look at the strangers through his telescope. He immediately sent back +Dio, who had accompanied him, to tell the drivers to push forward, with +the utmost speed of which the oxen were capable, while Mr Tidey and I +once more rode ahead to ascertain the best ground for the train to pass +over. We could no longer make out the Indians we had before seen to the +southward. We conjectured therefore that they had concealed themselves, +and intended joining the party following our trail. + +"They must have halted, or we should by this time have seen them +nearer," observed Mr Tidey. "My idea is that they are waiting for the +chance of our train being stopped by a break-down, and fancy that they +shall take us by surprise while we are off our guard. They are +evidently under the impression that we have not discovered them, for +though they are well aware that our rifles can shoot further than their +bows and arrows, they are fortunately ignorant of the power of the +telescope, and that we can see them much further than they can see us, +keen as is their eyesight." + +Whatever might have been the intention of the savages, they did not +approach. We rode on, without having to deviate from our course, the +ground being sufficiently level for the transit of the waggons. In a +short time we saw extended before us an undulating region, though we had +little doubt that we should be able to proceed along the hollows, +without having to make any great detour. Already the evening was +approaching, and as we had not found water during the day, we were +eagerly looking out for a stream or pond at which we and our animals +might quench our thirst. The sun was shining brightly, and, late in the +day as it was, the heat was considerable. Presently I caught the sheen +of water, but it appeared to be much below the level on which we were +riding. I pointed it out to Mr Tidey, and as we galloped on we saw the +summit of a line of cliffs. + +"There is a river between us and the ground we wish to reach," observed +Mr Tidey, "and I very much fear it is one we shall find it difficult to +cross." + +"If you will hold my horse, I will go ahead and ascertain the nature of +the ground," I said. + +"Be careful then, for I should not be surprised if you found yourself +suddenly on the brink of a precipice," replied Mr Tidey, as I +dismounted carrying my rifle. + +"Never fear," I answered as I ran forward. I had not gone fifty yards +when I saw a deep gully on my right hand, and in another minute +discovered a river a hundred feet below me fringed by trees, beyond +which rose a line of perpendicular cliffs, the tops of which we had seen +in the distance. Gazing up and down the stream I could perceive no +place by which the waggons could pass. I returned to my companion, and +we rode together for some distance to the south-west, in the hopes of +finding the ground slope down to a level with the water. We were, +however, disappointed. It was therefore necessary to return to the +train and to inform my father of our discovery, that he might decide +what course to take. This then was the point towards which the wily +Indians had seen us proceeding and had hoped that we should not perceive +our danger until the leading waggon had gone over the cliff, when they +would have taken the opportunity, so we fancied, of setting on us and +gaining an easy victory. + +They would, however, be disappointed, though we might find it difficult +to select a suitable spot for camping, where we could obtain water and +fuel, and at the same time defend ourselves should we be attacked. + +On getting back to the train, we learned that the Indians had not again +been seen. My father, on hearing our report, directed our course as Mr +Tidey advised, to the south-west. + +We had still more than an hour of daylight, and we calculated that we +should have time before dark to reach the river, though it was doubtful +whether we should find a practicable way down to the water. + +Never before had the poor oxen been made to go so fast, for our safety +might depend on our reaching the river before Mr Tidey and I once more +rode forward. At length we found the ground decline slightly in the +direction we were going. "As we are still evidently at a considerable +height above the level of the stream, though perhaps we shall be unable +to cross, we may camp near the edge of the cliffs, so that, at all +events, we shall be safe from attack on that side," I observed. + +"Not so sure of that," said Mr Tidey. "The Indians may know of a path +up them which we may fail to discover, and if so, the cunning rascals +will be sure to take advantage of it and endeavour to surprise us, +besides which, some of our cattle and horses may chance to tumble over +it and break their necks. However, as we are aware of the dangers, we +may guard against them." + +A few minutes after this, we found ourselves once more close to the +river. + +"If you will hold my horse I will run along the brink of the precipice +and try to discover a way down to the water," I said; "there is no lack +of wood near the margin of the river, so if we can get down the cliffs +we shall be able to obtain both those necessary articles." Still the +cliffs were so steep, that I was almost in despair when I saw another +gully, similar to the one I had before passed. On examining it, greatly +to my satisfaction I found that it formed a deep notch as it were in the +precipice, and that not only could a person on foot descend by it with +the greatest ease to the river, but that even horses and cattle might +make their way to the water. I shouted to Mr Tidey, who, coming up, +agreed with me that we could not hope for a better place for camping. +We accordingly galloped back to the train, and soon brought the waggons +up to the spot, with which my father was perfectly satisfied. While the +rest of the party were employed in placing the waggons so as to form the +sides of a square, the cliffs and the gully serving as the two other +sides to our camp, Mr Tidey, Dan, and I set off to explore the gully, +for which purpose but little light now remained. + +"Be cautious, boys, for that brushwood may conceal a lurking foe, though +I don't think a red-skin is likely to show himself when he sees three +rifles which may shoot him down if he does so," said the Dominie, as we +commenced our descent. We found that by cutting away the brushwood and +the trunks of a few trees we might form a road down to the level of the +river, and that we might at once lead the horses and oxen to water. It +was necessary, however, first to examine the foot of the cliff above +which we were encamped, that we might ascertain what security it would +afford us against a surprise from Indians on that side. On looking up +it appeared to me to be perfectly precipitous, a few shrubs, however, +projected here and there from the crevices of the rock, but they would +not, I fancied, enable the most active savage to climb up, though by +dropping from one to the other, a person might reach the bottom without +breaking his neck. We examined the cliffs for some distance to the +northward, of our camp. They retained the same character all the way. + +"No savages can get up there, at all events," I observed, as we were +returning. + +"Not quite so sure of that," answered Mr Tidey. "We will not trust +entirely to them. I will advise your father to post a sentinel on that +side as well as the others." We hurried back, and were in time to +assist in leading the horses and cattle down to the river. It would +have been a fine opportunity for any lurking foes to have carried them +off; probably, however, no Indians were in the neighbourhood, or if they +were, they were deterred from approaching by seeing our rifles in our +hands ready for action. My father was fully alive to the importance of +guarding the two sides formed by the gully and the cliff, and he ordered +all hands not required to keep guard on the outside of the camp, to +employ their axes in cutting down enough timber for forming a +breastwork,--by so doing we should, he remarked, lay bare the side of +the gully and deprive our assailants of the protection the brushwood +might afford them. + +"If we are only to spend one night here, I wonder father thinks it +necessary to take so much trouble," observed Dan. + +"If the trouble is not taken, it might prove our last night, my boy," +answered the Dominie, who overheard him: "if we cannot manage to keep +the Indians out of the camp, we may find our scalps off our heads before +the morning." + +Two or three of the men, who were somewhat discontented with the last +few days' hard travelling and short commons, though they had hitherto +gone on without grumbling, began to express themselves much as Dan had +done. Dio, who had been engaged in arranging the camp, and who had just +come up axe in hand, overheard them. + +"What you say, you boys?" he exclaimed; "dis niggar show you how to chop +de trees," and, raising his axe, he began to strike away with a vigour +which quickly cut through half a stout trunk. "Dare, dat de way dey +chop in Kentucky!" he again exclaimed, as the tree came down with a +crash. Tree after tree quickly fell beneath his axe. The rest of the +men, put to shame by his zeal, followed his example, and we soon had +timber sufficient for our purpose. + +Our next business was to drag it into the required position. + +This we did with the help of the oxen, for without them we should have +been unable to accomplish the undertaking. + +At length we got up a rough breastwork on two sides of the camp, while +our waggons and their cargoes, with the aid of a few additional posts, +served to strengthen our position. + +We surveyed our fort with considerable satisfaction. One side we might +consider impregnable; the second, that along the edge of the ravine, was +not likely to be attacked, and we had a sufficient force of rifles to +defend the other two against a whole horde of savages without fire-arms. + +"Yes, our fort is a strong one," observed the Dominie, "but many a +stronger has been captured when the garrison thought themselves secure. +We must still be on the watch against surprise or treachery. Depend +upon it, the red-skins will employ their usual cunning rather than run +the risk of losing their lives by an open assault on our position. Your +father is too old a soldier not to think of that, but I want to impress +the importance of the matter on your uncle and the rest of the men, who +appear to fancy that all we shall have to do is to remain here quietly, +until the captain thinks fit to move on again." + +"I'll promise you to keep my eyes open, and to impress the same duty on +the other men," I answered. + +"Especially keep them open towards the very point which you fancy so +secure, down that cliff. You or I might find it a tough job to climb up +it with our boots and gaiters, and heavy coats, but a half-naked savage, +with his scalping-knife in his teeth, would not think it so hard a +matter, and hard or not hard, if mortal man can do it, he'll try, if he +hopes to catch us napping when he gets to the top." + +We were now summoned to the supper which had been in the meantime +preparing, and my mother, with Kathleen and Lily, followed by Biddy and +the nurse Rose, joined us round the camp-fire. The security which we +now enjoyed made us forget the dangers we had passed, and those we might +anticipate, and put us all into good spirits. + +Of course the usual number of men were on the watch, but I observed that +my father was constantly in the attitude of listening; and both he and +the Dominie frequently got up and walked round the camp, the Dominie +especially taking many a peep over the breastwork above the cliff. + +"In my opinion, that part should not be left unguarded for a moment," he +said. "The rush of the water below prevents us from hearing anyone +moving beneath, and we can hardly see ten feet down, while an Indian +would not take half as many seconds to spring to the top and be in our +midst." + +As it was important that the men should obtain some rest after the +fatigues they had gone through, those not required to be on guard were +ordered to lie down. Before doing so, however, the horses and cattle +were brought inside the camp, where they might be in security should the +Indians suddenly come upon us during the hours of darkness. + +My father, Uncle Denis, and the Dominie divided the watch between them, +so that one was always on duty. I was appointed to act under Mr Tidey, +and it fell to his lot to keep the morning watch. I don't think I ever +slept more soundly in my life, for I had been on horseback, or in active +exercise since sunrise. I rubbed my eyes when called by Uncle Denis. + +"We have had a quiet night, not a sign of the redskins, and I suspect, +should they have reconnoitred our camp from a distance, they have +thought it wise to let it alone," he said. + +"You may be right, Mr O'Dwyer; but, notwithstanding, the night is not +over, and until I see the sun rise I shall not be satisfied that we are +to move on without a skirmish," observed the Dominie. + +"Well, well! I hope to get my night's rest out without interruption," +answered Uncle Denis, as he stretched himself on the ground, and turned +on his side to go to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +READY FOR THE FOE--DIO'S MASTER-STROKE--THE BATTLE--DEFEAT OF THE +REDSKINS--WATCHING THROUGH THE NIGHT--A RECONNOITRING PARTY--A PERILOUS +DUTY--THE COAST CLEAR--EXPLORING THE WOODS--THE RUSTLING IN THE LEAVES-- +AN AMERICAN LION--FIGHT BETWEEN A PUMA AND BOAR--FRESH PROVISIONS--NO +ENEMY NEAR--TIM CASEY'S REDSKINS--THE START--SEEKING A FORD--CROSSING +DISCOVERED BY DIO--A CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT--DEATH OF AN INDIAN CHIEF--A +STRANGE COLONY--PRAIRIE DOGS--SCARCITY OF WATER--SUFFERINGS OF THE +PARTY--SET OUT TO PROCURE RELIEF--MAKE FOR FORT HAMILTON--HORSES BITTEN +BY RATTLE-SNAKE--A WELCOME SIGN--FRIENDS OR FOES--THE SERGEANT OF THE +GUARD--THE CHALLENGE AFTER THE SHOT--THE FORT REACHED--OUR RECEPTION-- +THE DOCTOR'S TREATMENT OF MY HORSE--A VISIT TO THE FORTIFICATIONS. + +Kept on the alert by Mr Tidey's warnings, I continued racing up and +down the portion of the camp which had been allotted to me to guard. It +was the north-west angle, contained by the line of breastwork which ran +along the edge of the ravine and half of that by the brink of the cliff. +I frequently stopped to listen, stretching over as far as I could to +look down into the depths of the gorge below, I had been on watch about +an hour and had just reached the eastern end of my beat, where it joined +that of Dio, who was posted at the northern angle, when I saw the black +come creeping towards me. + +"Hist! Massa Mike," he whispered, "me tink me hear someting down below, +may be bear or painter, or may be red-skin comin' to try and cut our +t'roats. He no get in so easy 'dough. Jes' come an' say what you t'ink +it is, Massa Mike, but not show yourself, or if red-skin savage him +shoot his arrow." + +Following Dio's example, I stooped down and crept cautiously on to the +point to which he conducted me. We listened attentively. The sound of +the cattle cropping the grass, or the cry of some night-bird, and now +and then the snore of a sleeper, alone broke the silence of night. + +"I can hear no sounds, Dio," I whispered. + +"Dat show me dat he no bear, painter, or wolf, for dey rush about de +brushwood. Red-skin too clever for dat." + +"Keep watch then, Dio," I said, "while I call Mr Tidey. You very +likely are right; and if he thinks so, we must rouse up the rest of the +camp. You must keep an eye to my post, which I ought not to quit except +on an emergency." + +I ran to the opposite angle, where the Dominie had stationed himself, +and told him that Dio had heard a movement below us. + +"Just what I expected," he answered; "go back to your post, and I will +call up your father and uncle, and the rest of the men if necessary." + +I hurried back and had scarcely got half-way across the camp, though it +was not many paces wide, when I saw Dio lift up his double-handed axe, +and strike a blow with it at some object which was to me invisible. The +Dominie, who had seen the occurrence, rushed back to the breastwork. We +were just in time to catch sight of the feather-bedecked heads of two +Indians rising above the bank, on which they were about to place their +knees. The next moment Dio's axe came down on one of them, while the +Dominie struck a blow at the other which hurled him backwards. + +"Give a look to the side of the gully, they will be attempting to get in +there presently. The Indians expect to surprise us, but we will turn +the tables on them," whispered Mr Tidey. + +I followed his directions, but on looking over the breastwork could see +no one. My father and the other men were on their feet in a moment. +Hitherto not a word had been spoken above a whisper, so that should any +redskins be making their way up the gully they would not discover that +we were on the alert, unless the sound of the falling bodies of those +who had been killed had reached their ears. I was quickly joined by +Uncle Denis and Dan, who had crept along so as not to show their heads +over the fortifications. We had thrown a quantity of brushwood on the +logs, which served more effectually to conceal us, with here and there +an opening through which we could look. We each of us stationed +ourselves at one of these loop-holes. Several minutes had passed, I +listened, expecting that some sound would indicate the approach of the +enemy, but I could neither hear nor see anything, and I began to fancy +that the three Indians we had disposed of were alone engaged in the +attempt to surprise us, or that their companions, if they had any, on +their being killed, had taken to flight. What was going on, on the +other side of the camp, I could not tell, but I felt very sure that my +father was keeping a vigilant watch, and was prepared for whatever might +occur. The camp was wrapped in as perfect silence as if we had all been +asleep. Presently it was broken by the reports of rifles fired almost +simultaneously, succeeded by a chorus of the most fearful yells and +whoops I had ever heard, proceeding from the throats it seemed of a +whole legion of savages. The horses and terrified cattle tugged at +their tether ropes, two or three breaking loose and rushing up to the +side I was on for protection, being the furthest from the dreaded +sounds. Others stood trembling, too paralysed with fear to move. Had +it not been for the breastwork, I suspect we should have lost many of +them over the cliff. My first impulse was to hasten to the side +attacked, but in the interval between the war-whoops, I heard my +father's voice shouting, "Stay all of you at your posts, we don't know +on which side we may next be attacked." + +Our men continued firing as rapidly as they could load, and as far as I +could judge were successfully keeping the foe at bay; though showers of +arrows kept falling into the camp, and we on the opposite side ran no +slight risk of being wounded. I was looking through my loophole, when I +saw some dark objects creeping out from amid the brushwood on the +opposite side of the ravine. Under other circumstances I should have +supposed that they were four-footed animals, wolves, or wild hogs, but +as it was, I was very certain that they were men. They advanced but a +few paces, then stopped as if surveying the side of the fort in front of +them. Once more they began to creep on slowly. Hurrying up to Dan, I +despatched him to tell our father what I had seen, and that within a +minute probably we should be attacked. + +"I see them," whispered Uncle Denis, "we must hold them in check until +assistance arrives." + +We were not long kept in a state of suspense. In a shorter space of +time than I had expected another fearful shriek rent the air, and a host +of dark forms sprang into view; at the same moment a flight of arrows +came whistling above our heads. The brushwood, however, deceived them, +and the missiles flew over us, though we feared that some of the cattle +would be wounded. + +"Now give it them!" cried my uncle, and we both fired, bringing down two +of our assailants. For a moment they were checked, but once again +moving on, they began scrambling up the side of the breastwork, and +would in another instant have been over it, when we were joined by my +father, Mr Tidey, and most of the men, who, having poured a volley full +in the faces of the foe, seized their axes and soon cleared the +breastwork. We quickly reloaded again, and fired on our retreating +enemies, who sprang down the sides of the gully, to shelter themselves +in the brushwood from which I had seen them emerge. Scarcely was this +done, than a shout from Martin Prentis, who was in charge of the +opposite side, summoned back the party to defend it. They reloaded as +they went, and were just in time to fire a volley on the savages who had +rallied and charged almost close up to the waggons; but meeting +unexpectedly so determined a resistance, they once more scampered off, +much faster than they had approached. + +We still kept, however, a vigilant watch on the cliff side, lest the +cunning savages, fancying that we should be off our guard, might again +attempt to surprise us. As may be supposed none of us turned in. Some +of the men were employed in examining the wounds the cattle had +received. Fortunately two of the people only had been slightly hurt by +the arrows, several of which, however, were found sticking in the +waggons, or had gone through the tilts. + +Mr Tidey, Dio, and I continued pacing up and down above the cliff, over +which we constantly looked, our eyes endeavouring to detect any movement +in the bushes, which might indicate the presence of Indians. + +As far as we could see through the gloom, all was perfectly quiet. At +length some bright streaks appeared in the eastern sky. Slowly the +light increased, and we could see and hear the water as it flowed far +down below us, the cliffs on the opposite side of the river coming into +view; still a part of the trees across the gully were shrouded in gloom, +and might, for what we could tell, conceal our foes. + +It was with a feeling of thankfulness that I at length saw the sun +himself rising above the prairie, over which we had passed on the +previous day, and soon the whole country was lighted up by his bright +rays. From the elevated position of our camp, we could obtain an +extensive view to the eastward and south, though the rising ground +across the river to the north prevented us from seeing far in that +direction, while the wood which clothed the side of the ravine continued +on some way to the westward, and shut out the prospect. + +"We must manage to ascertain whether any of the red-skins are lurking in +that wood," observed Mr Tidey; "they are very likely to have stowed +themselves away, ready to rush out upon us, while they fancy that most +of the men are engaged with the cattle outside, or have gone down to the +river to draw water. It won't do to trust those fellows, +notwithstanding the defeat they have received." + +I agreed with him, and arranged, if my father did not object, to make an +excursion into the wood as soon as we had had breakfast, taking care not +to be surprised ourselves by those whose presence it was our object to +discover. As soon as I was off my watch, I went to ascertain how it +fared with my mother and her young charges. She had remained in her +tent, under the shelter of the waggons, during the whole time, and had +been less alarmed, she assured me, than I had expected. "I knew that +your father had taken all possible means to defend the camp, and that +the men would do their duty; and I trusted that God in His mercy would +protect us," she said. Kathleen and Lily, who were awakened by the +firing, threw their arms round my neck. Kathleen asked when the +redskins would be driven away, but poor Lily was naturally far more +frightened, believing that the savages would kill us all as they had +lately killed her friends. Rose was almost as much alarmed, but Biddy +was ready to stand up and fight with the men, had her services been +required. + +My father, I found, had determined to remain a couple of days in our +present camp, for the purpose of resting the cattle, and in the hopes +that the Indians, finding that we were well prepared to resist their +attacks, would move to a distance, so that we might proceed without +further molestation to Fort Hamilton. My father, calling the men +together, praised them for their conduct. + +"If you all are as watchful as heretofore, and behave with the same cool +courage, I feel very sure that we shall make our way through and defeat +the redskins, should any come near us," he observed: "we must now find +out whether any savages are lurking in yonder wood, that we may not run +the risk of being attacked while we are taking our cattle down to the +river." + +On hearing this remark, I told him what Mr Tidey proposed, and begged +leave to accompany the Dominie. + +"I cannot forbid my own son to perform a duty which I would impose on +others," he answered. "You may go, Mike, and I must charge you as I +should anybody else, to be cautious; you have a wily foe to deal with, +and you must take care not to let any of the Indians get between you and +the camp." + +I of course promised to use all due precaution. Dio, who had been +attentively listening to what my father said, offered at once to go down +to the bottom of the cliff and ascertain if any of our enemies were +concealed in the brushwood which skirted the borders of the river. + +"It still dark down dare, an' dey not see me," he observed. Though the +rays of the rising sun glanced across the higher ground, the light had +scarcely yet penetrated into the depths below; still it was doubtful if +even Dio would escape the sharp eyes of the Indians, should any be +concealed and lurking near. However, as it was important to ascertain +whether any remained, my father did not prohibit him from carrying out +his intention. Slipping over the breastwork, he disappeared among the +trees in the ravine. We listened somewhat anxiously for any sound which +might indicate that he had discovered a foe, or rather that a foe had +discovered him, but as we looked down over the cliff, we could neither +see nor hear anyone moving among the dense brushwood. In a few minutes, +greatly to our relief, he returned, reporting that although he had found +some marks of blood on the rocks where the Indians had fallen, that +their bodies had been removed, proving that a number of the enemy must +have collected there with the intention of climbing up the cliff, but +had been deterred by the death of their companions. We had now to +ascertain if the wood itself was clear of them. + +As soon as we had taken a hasty breakfast, the Dominie and I set off; +Martin Prentis and Dio accompanying us a short distance. It was +intended that they should return if no enemies were discovered, so that +the horses and cattle might be led down to the river without delay. As +we made our way along, we examined every bush or rock which might +conceal a foe, but minute as was our search we could, discover no one. +We therefore sent back our companions, saying that we were sure there +could be no risk in letting the thirsty animals go down to the river. +As there were only two of us, we had now to proceed more cautiously. It +thus took us a considerable time to cover but a small space of ground. +As the sun was still low, many parts of the forest were shrouded in +gloom, though here and there the light penetrated amid the trunks of the +trees and enabled us to see far ahead. We kept ourselves concealed as +we advanced, waiting occasionally to listen, but no sounds reached our +ears. If we spoke, it was in low whispers, when we were close together. + +"I am pretty well satisfied that no Indians are here," observed Mr +Tidey, "still we must be prudent, and run no unnecessary risk." + +Again we advanced, when suddenly he made a sign for me to stop. A +rustling in the brushwood had reached his ear. I heard it also; it came +from a spot some way ahead. Directly before us appeared a huge tree +which had been partially uprooted, the trunk being at a sharp angle with +the ground, while the boughs resting against those of its neighbours had +prevented it from falling prostrate. We crept towards it, and finding +that I could easily clamber up I did so, followed by Mr Tidey. We +could thus see much further ahead than from the ground below. We had +been there about a minute, the rustling sound still continuing. + +"If the Indians are making their way through the wood, they cannot +suppose that anyone is near, or they would be more cautious," I +observed. + +"No Indians would make a noise like that," whispered Mr Tidey; "see!" + +Just then a wild boar broke through the brushwood, making its way among +the tall grass, which he dug up with his tusks as if in search of roots. +Presently he lay down to enjoy at his ease the repast he had thus +procured. Instinctively I raised my rifle to my shoulder, when my +companion made a sign. + +"Don't fire," he said; "for should the Indians be in the neighbourhood, +the sound will attract them towards us." + +"But the boar will escape, and we shall lose the pork, which will be so +acceptable in camp," I remarked. + +"Better to lose the pork than be scalped," answered the Dominie, though +he gazed at the boar with a wistful eye. + +We were still undecided what to do, when we caught sight of another +large animal creeping along from an opposite direction towards the boar. +So stealthily did it advance, that the boar appeared to be unconscious +of its approach. + +The newcomer was the creature commonly known among the western settlers +as the "painter," but more properly called the puma or American lion. +It is a powerful animal with a tawny hide, larger than the largest dog, +and more like a tiger than a lion. It will seldom attack man, unless it +can take him at a disadvantage, and if boldly met will run off rather +than fight. When pressed by hunger, however, it is very savage, and +with its sharp claws and teeth proves a formidable antagonist. It was +not likely to attack us while expecting to enjoy a feast of pork. We +were both afraid of speaking, lest we should attract its attention, and +the boar, being alarmed, might effect its escape. + +On crept the "painter" in the attitude of a cat about to seize some +helpless bird. The moment it came within a few paces it made a +tremendous spring and alighted with its four paws on the body of the +boar. Whether or not the latter had seen it coming out of the corner of +one of its eyes I could not tell, but as the "painter" made its bound, +it rose to its feet and with its sharp tusks inflicted a severe wound in +the breast of its antagonist. A fearful struggle now commenced between +the two animals, the "painter" endeavouring to seize the neck of the +boar with its teeth, while the boar drove its tusks again and again into +the breast and shoulders of the puma, giving vent, at the same time, to +its rage and fear in angry grunts, shrieks, and squeaks, sufficient to +attract the attention of any hungry redskins, who would guess what was +going forward, within a mile of us. Still, in spite of the wounds it +had received, there was every probability that the puma, from its +greater agility, would gain the victory. The boar's thick skin was torn +off in several places by the claws and teeth of its antagonist. Its +movements became slower and slower, till the puma, having learned to +avoid its tusks, sprang on its back, and then rolling it over with one +blow of its paw, tore out its inside. The "painter" having thus gained +the victory, began forthwith to feast on pork. + +"Come, that's more than I bargained for," exclaimed Mr Tidey, and +forgetting the caution he had given me, he lifted his rifle and fired. +His bullet went through the head of the puma, which rolled over by the +side of its late antagonist. + +"You told me not to fire for fear of attracting the Indians," I +observed. + +"So I did, but I am satisfied that the uproar made by the boar would +have brought them to the spot had there been any in the neighbourhood," +he answered. "I don't think we have cause to fear them. Keep watch, +however, where you are, while I go down and cut up the porker. Should +you hear or see any Indians coming this way give me timely notice, and I +will rejoin you. We shall be able to hold our own against them, but I +do not expect that we shall be interfered with." + +Saying this, he scrambled down the trunk of the tree, and cautiously +approached the puma. His bullet, however, had effectually deprived it +of life. Accordingly, placing his rifle on the ground, so that he might +seize it in a moment, he began to cut up the boar. The operation did +not take his practised hand long to perform. I was too much occupied, +however, in watching the approaches from all directions to perceive what +he was about, for every instant I expected to see the painted face of an +Indian brave emerging from among the trees. No one appeared, and at +length I heard Mr Tidey shout out:-- + +"The pork is ready for transport, we will make the best of our way back +to camp, so come down and help me, Mike. We may report that there are +no Indians in the wood, or we should have made their acquaintance long +ago." + +I found that Mr Tidey had not only cut up the boar, but had flayed the +puma, from the skin of which he had formed a number of thongs. Some of +them served to secure to our backs as much of the pork as we could +carry, while with others we fastened up the remainder of the boar to the +boughs of a tree, to prevent either wolves or other animals from +reaching it until we could return with one of the horses to carry it +into camp. Our task being completed, we set off, taking a direct line +back, keeping well in the centre of the wood, that we might run no risk +of being seen by any Indians outside it. + +The pork we had brought was extremely welcome, as we had had no fresh +provisions for some days. Dio, with one of the other men immediately +volunteered to go out and bring in the remainder, our trail being +sufficiently distinct to enable them without difficulty to reach the +spot. As the Indians had not reappeared during our absence, it was +hoped that they would not incur any danger in the expedition. Mr +Tidey, however, though pretty well tired, insisted on accompanying them +as soon as he had taken some food. The two wounded men were going on +well, and the cattle which had been hurt by the Indians' arrows did not +appear to be much the worse from the injuries they had received. None +of the people were idle, those not on watch being employed in repairing +the waggons and harness, cleaning their arms, filling the water-skins, +mending their clothes, or in cutting wood for our fires or cooking. +Late in the day Mr Tidey and his companions appeared with the remainder +of the boar's flesh, which they had found untouched, though the carcase +of the puma had been eaten up by a pack of coyotes, the traces of whose +feet they discovered under the bough to which the meat had been +suspended. + +We now prepared for another night, every one being aware that before it +was over we might be engaged in a deadly struggle for our lives, for it +was more than probable that the Indians, though defeated, might make +another attempt to surprise us. As all the grass within the camp had +been consumed, it was necessary to allow the cattle and horses to remain +outside, three men being stationed to watch them. I felt very thankful +when I was able to wrap myself up in my buffalo robe, and go to sleep, +and so I am sure were all hands to lie down and rest. Some time after +midnight my ears caught the sound of firing. I started to my feet, and +seized my rifle, expecting to find that the camp was attacked, every one +else also was aroused. The reports had come from the direction where +the cattle we feeding, and presently Uncle Denis and I, who hurried out +to ascertain the cause of the alarm, met them, urged on by the voices of +their drovers, moving leisurely towards the camp. On coming up to one +of the men, Tim Casey by name, we inquired where the enemy had been +seen, for we could perceive no objects moving anywhere. + +"Sure, didn't I catch sight of a whole tribe of the murtherin' villins +creepin' up on all fours, loike so minny big rats towards us, and didn't +they turn tail an' scamper off when I fired at thim." + +The other men had not even seen the enemy. + +"Depend on it, Tim, that your tribe of redskins were a tribe of coyotes, +who might, however, have pulled down one of the oxen had you not driven +them off," said Uncle Denis. "You may let the cattle rest without any +fear of an attack for the present, for the appearance of the wolves is a +pretty sure sign that no redskins are in the neighbourhood." + +Uncle Denis was right in his conjectures, the night passed away without +any further alarm. We had hopes of enjoying a complete rest during the +day, but the forest to the westward and the dense wood below us, caused +my father some anxiety, as they might afford concealment to an +approaching enemy, and we were compelled therefore to keep a constant +watch against surprise. As evening approached and it was necessary +again to water the cattle, two parties were sent out, one along the bank +of the river, and the other to examine the forest some distance from the +camp. Both returned reporting that they had met with neither human +beings nor animals, and the cattle were accordingly led down as before +to the river side. It was somewhat difficult to account for our being +allowed to remain in quiet. The only way we could do so was from +supposing that the Indians had lost so many men that they thought it +prudent not to molest us while we remained in camp. The question was +whether they would venture to attack the train when we were once more +moving on. Still, move we must, and preparations were made for starting +at daybreak the following morning. + +The weather was beautifully fine, and we were all in good health and in +excellent spirits, considering the dangers by which we were surrounded. +Another night went tranquilly by, and the instant the first faint +streaks of light appeared in the eastern sky my father roused up all +hands. In an instant we were engaged in our respective duties, +reloading the waggons, harnessing the cattle, and saddling the horses. +We were quickly in order, the word was given to move on. My father, on +his stout horse, led the way, keeping at some distance from the wood, on +which he directed us to maintain a vigilant watch lest a party of +Indians, expecting to find us off our guard, might be in ambush beneath +its shelter, and pounce out upon us. Mr Tidey and I rode one on either +flank, sometimes pushing on ahead, with our rifles ready to fire at any +foe who might appear, and to retreat to the main body according to my +father's directions. The wood was at length passed, and we obtained an +extensive view over the country, on every side. Our object was now to +find a ford by which we might cross the river. In case of not +discovering one, we intended to form rafts to ferry over the waggons, +while the horses and oxen would have to swim across. To do this; +however, would be a work of great labour and involve the loss of much +time, besides the risk of having the waggons upset. They would have, we +foresaw, to be floated down to a convenient landing-place, should one +not be found opposite to the spot where we might embark. Above the +river rose a number of high bluffs one beyond the other. While Dio, who +now accompanied Mr Tidey and me, held our horses, we climbed to the +summits of several of them, hoping to discover the anxiously desired +ford. + +Time after time we had been disappointed as we had seen the river still +flowing on through a narrow and deep channel, across which it would have +been impossible for our waggons to pass. + +The day was drawing to a close. + +"If we do not discover the ford soon, we shall have to camp again on +this side," observed my companion. "There is another height, perhaps we +shall be more fortunate this time!" + +We dismounted, and Dio took our reins, while we made our way to the top +of the bluff. Looking back we could see the train about half a mile +off, slowly following in our tracks. Beyond us, to the southward, the +country appeared much more level than that we had lately passed over, +while, greatly to our satisfaction, the river widened out considerably, +the ground sloping down gradually on both sides to the water. + +"That part looks fordable at all events," said the Dominie, pointing it +out to me. "If we cannot get across in any other way, we must make +rafts of the waggons and send a small part of their cargoes over at a +time. The undertaking can be easily performed, provided the Indians +keep at a distance, but it would be awkward to be attacked while engaged +in the operation." + +"We will hope for the best," I answered; "but we will take a look round +the country, and we may perhaps discover them, should any be moving +about in the distance." + +We swept our glasses round and round the horizon several times. Once I +thought that I caught sight of a party of Indians moving rapidly over +the ground, but what I saw proved to be a herd of antelopes. We +observed also several buffaloes, which made us wish that we had time to +go and hunt them, for a fat cow would have been welcome. The idea +however of going in chase of them was not to be thought of, considering +the risk we should run of falling in with Indians who might be on the +watch for us. Still tolerably satisfied that no enemies were within a +distance of several miles, we descended the hill and pushed on to that +part of the river which appeared likely to afford us a passage. On +reaching it, Dio exclaimed-- + +"Me tink me get 'cross, me go in an' try; if too deep, me swim like one +fish!" + +Without waiting for permission, he dashed forward. We watched him +anxiously: at first the water reached scarcely above his horse's knees, +but as he advanced it grew deeper and deeper, and presently, to our +disappointment, we saw the animal swimming, while Dio, who threw himself +from its back, struck out with one hand, while he guided it across with +the other. The horse quickly regained its feet, and after wading for +forty or fifty yards, stepped again on dry ground. Dio immediately +mounted, and pointing down the stream, made signs to us that he would +recross in that direction; we rode along the bank, very doubtful, +however, whether a fordable spot could be found. Once more Dio rode +into the stream, and we watched him anxiously as the water rose higher +and higher up his horse's legs. Still the animal walked on, though in +the centre the water reached nearly to the girths, soon after however +gradually diminishing in depth. There could be no doubt, if the ground +was hard, that the waggons could be got over. On this point Dio gave a +favourable report, and we, both riding in, crossed at some distance from +each other over even ground. Mr Tidey sent Dio back to report our +discovery to my father, while we rode backwards and forwards several +times to assure ourselves that the ford was of ample width to allow not +only one waggon but two or three to cross abreast if necessary; by the +time the leading waggon arrived we had thoroughly surveyed the ford, and +it at once began to descend the slope to the water's edge. Scarcely had +the oxens' feet entered the stream, when Tim Casey came riding up, sent +by Uncle Denis from the rear, to say that he made out some horsemen in +the far distance, who, he much feared, were Indians. + +"We shall have time to cross and form our camp on the opposite side, +before they can reach us," answered my father. "Tell Mr O'Dwyer to +hurry on the rearmost waggons; but keep cool, my lads; there is no cause +for alarm; for should there be no other ford in the neighbourhood, the +savages cannot cross to attack us on the other side, and we can easily +defend ourselves against any number of assailants." + +While Mr Tidey and Dio forded the river, to form the waggons as they +got over, my father and I remained to direct the passage. As they +arrived one after the other, he ordered them to push across without a +moment's delay. I saw that he frequently cast a glance in the direction +in which, from the report sent by Uncle Denis, we expected the Indians +to appear. He retained several of the men not absolutely required to +attend the waggons. The two last had got down to the brink of the +river, when Uncle Denis, who had remained some distance in the rear, +came galloping up. + +"The Indians are approaching," he exclaimed; "they will be here before +the waggons are across." + +"Push on then, my lads," said my father to the drivers; "we are ready +for them, and if they venture near, they will have to mourn the loss of +some of their braves." + +The waggon wheels were in the water, the oxen tugged away, urged on by +their drivers. My father, Uncle Denis and I, with Martin and two other +men, remained behind to protect them until they were safe across. A +little on one side, the bank was somewhat of a cliff-like form of +sufficient height to conceal us when we stooped down from the foe. We +could hear the tramp of the Indians' horses as they galloped on, +doubtlessly supposing that they should soon come on the unprotected rear +of the train, and easily carry off two or three waggons. + +We remained motionless until we caught sight of the heads of the leading +horses of the enemy, the chiefs shouting and shrieking as they were +about to dash forward into the stream. + +"Now, fire!" cried my father, and half a dozen redskins toppled over +from their saddles. + +"Wallop, a-hoo, a-boo, Erin-go-bragh!" shouted Uncle Denis. + +We echoed his cries, as, digging spurs into our steeds without stopping +to reload, we threw ourselves on the advancing foe, pistolling some and +cutting down others. + +Those who were still on the level ground, and had command of their +horses, seeing the fall of their companions, wheeled round and retreated +to a distance, while some, who had got too far to stop themselves, leapt +into the river beyond the ford where their small steeds were soon +carried off their legs and together with their riders swept down the +current. + +"Now let us cross while we can, before those fellows charge again," +cried my father, and urging our horses into the water we followed the +waggons, the rearmost of which were by this time more than half-way +over. + +What I have described occupied scarcely a minute. Our chief object was +now to get the waggons across, and to place them in position, before the +Indians, recovering from the panic, should perceive the smallness of our +covering party and again swoop down upon us. To be prepared for them, +we reloaded as we crossed the stream, trusting to the sure-footedness of +our horses not to stumble. + +The drivers exerted themselves to the utmost, encouraged by Dio, who +rushed again and again into the water to urge on the oxen, most of whom +tried to drink as they found their noses close to the refreshing liquid. + +There was just time for the waggons to reach the bank, and to be placed +with their broadsides towards the ford, when we saw the enemy again +approaching. + +"Let no one fire until they are half-way across, and then don't throw a +shot away," cried my father, as the rest of the men joined us. + +The leading waggons formed in line along the bank. The savages, +unwilling to lose so rich a prize as they hoped to obtain by the capture +of our train, came galloping forward, shouting and shrieking as before. + +"Let them whoop again as loud as they like, but they'll not frighten +us," cried Martin Prentis; "we'll give them a British cheer in return," +and raising his voice, every person joining, a cheer was uttered which +must have astonished the redskins: their pace slackened, but still they +advanced, encouraged by a chief, who, waving a spear, rode on ahead. He +was not aware how far our bullets could reach. + +Uncle Denis, raising his rifle, took a steady aim. The steed galloped +on a few yards, when the chief, waving his spear and shouting to the +last, fell dead to the ground. His followers, coming up, reined in +their horses, uttering loud wails, and then, wheeling round, bore him +away with them, nor stopped until they were out of sight. As they made +no further attempt to recover the bodies of those who had before fallen, +it was an acknowledgment of their complete defeat, and we had reason to +hope that we should not be further molested. We now set busily to work +to form our camp, to cut wood for our fire, keeping, notwithstanding our +success, a vigilant watch on all sides. It was possible that other +bands of Indians might be on the western bank of the river and that we +should still have to fight our way to the fort. + +The night passed tranquilly by, and the next morning we proceeded as +before. The apparently boundless prairie stretched out ahead, covered +chiefly with long grass and here and there small bushes, which the +buffalo and deer had allowed to struggle into existence. We advanced as +rapidly as we could, steering by the compass, the scenery monotonous in +the extreme, not a hill to be seen to break the wide circle of the +horizon. One advantage was that we could not be taken by surprise, as +we could see for a long distance any enemy which might approach us. We +found numberless skeletons of buffaloes as well as their wallows, though +we had not hitherto fallen in with any to which we might give chase. + +Mr Tidey and I were, as usual, leading ahead, taking care always to +keep the train in view. Every now and then he stood up in his stirrups, +in the hopes of seeing buffalo, but no buffalo appeared. We, however, +after proceeding about a dozen miles from the river, saw away to the +left, over a wide extent of ground, a number of small hillocks, which, +had I been on foot, I might have mistaken for a range of hills in the +distance. As it would not take us much out of our way, we rode towards +them, when, as we approached we saw to our surprise that the top of +every mound was occupied either by a small animal or a bird of an +owl-like appearance, which appeared to be watching the rest of the +community, employed in cropping the grass or running about in the +immediate neighbourhood. + +As the little creatures perceived us, they rushed to their look-out +station at the top of the mounds, while at the same moment a number of +small heads popped up from holes in the ground, and we were saluted by a +chorus of sharp, angry barks, while the animals shook their sides and +wagged their tails at every bark, as if they would wag them off; then, +having thus exhibited either their pleasure or fear--it was difficult to +say which--uttering a fresh volley of barks, they rushed headlong into +their burrows, wagging their tails to the last as they disappeared +beneath the surface. The little owls, however, kept their posts and +regarded us with their round eyes, utterly destitute of fear. + +I burst into a fit of laughter. "What are these funny creatures, I +wonder?" I asked. + +"They are prairie dogs, and we have fallen in with a prairie dog town, +though I little expected to find one so far north," answered the +Dominie; "we should farther away find them covering acres of ground. It +is said that an owl and a rattle-snake are invariably to be found in +each hole, living in perfect amity with its inmates, but I suspect that +although rattlesnakes are often to be found in the abodes of the small +rodents, their object in going there is rather to devour the young +prairie dogs than for any friendly purpose, though it is possible that +the owls take up their residence among them for the sake of society." + +The animals we were watching were of the size of a rabbit, with hair +like that of a rat, the colour being of a light red, resembling the +squirrel. Their tails, however, instead of curling over, stood straight +up over their backs and seemed formed for the express purpose of +wagging, which they did to a prodigious amount. They are of the most +sociable disposition, and are generally found living in large colonies +on the prairies. We watched for a minute or two, but they did not again +show their noses above the ground. No sooner, however, had we turned +our horses' heads, and begun to ride off, than we were saluted by a +chorus of barks, which was kept up until we were out of hearing. + +We should have halted at noon, but as no water could be found, we pushed +on, in the hopes of coming to a pool at which the cattle could drink. +We carried, however, enough in our water-bottles to slake our own +thirst. The sun beat down on our heads with greater force than we had +yet experienced, and compelled us frequently to apply to them. The poor +animals, we knew, must be suffering greatly, but the small portion of +the precious liquid we could have spared would have afforded them no +relief. In vain we rode sometimes to the north, sometimes to the south, +in the hopes of discovering the smallest puddle. At last we had to halt +to rest the weary cattle, though we could find no water, and without it +they showed no inclination to crop the hard, wiry grass. We therefore +remained but a short time, and once more pushed forward. As evening +approached we began to feel very anxious, for without water the oxen +ould scarcely perform their next day's journey. The sun, verging +towards the west, was shining in our eyes and prevented us from +discerning objects in that direction. At length Mr Tidey, who was on +ahead, shouted to me that he saw a hollow, with shrubs growing round it, +and that in all probability water would be found at the bottom; I got up +alongside him, and we rode forward together. As we drew nearer the +hollow appeared to increase in size, but still we could see no water. + +"Surely there must be some there!" exclaimed Mr Tidey; "it cannot all +have dried up." + +I felt rather doubtful about that, but when we reached the brink of the +hollow our anxiety was relieved by seeing a pool, though of small +dimensions and covered over with a thick coat of green, broken here and +there by some water-fowl which had dipped into it. Such as it was, it +was better than no water, and we rode back to guide the waggons to it. +As we drew up on the bank we could scarcely restrain the oxen from +rushing down quench their burning thirst. It was necessary, however, to +water the horses first, though we could not allow them to take their +fill, for fear of exhausting the supply. As soon as the oxen were +unyoked, some nearly rolled over on their noses in their eagerness to +drink the stagnant water. After they had been led back it was with +difficulty we could prevent their returning, but it was necessary to +preserve some of the water for the following morning. Though we kept a +watch as usual all night, we had not much fear of being attacked, as the +want of water, would, we hoped, prevent the Indians from approaching us. + +Some time before the streak of pink and gold which announces the coming +dawn appeared in the sky, we were all on foot and the horses were led +down to be watered, but instead of the liquid we expected to find, a +mass of soft mud, through which it had sunk, was alone to be discovered. +Without stopping therefore for breakfast, we immediately yoked in the +oxen and pushed forward, hoping that before noon we might reach some +stream or another water-hole. Our own supply of the necessary liquid +was almost exhausted, and we ourselves might suffer severely if none +could be found. Usually the men, as they trudged forward, amused +themselves by singing songs or cutting jokes, but even the merriest were +now silent and their countenances grew longer and longer as the day +advanced and no water appeared. My father and uncle held a +consultation. We might have to travel on, not only for one day, but for +two or three days, without finding water, and the fort, from whence +alone we were certain of obtaining relief, was still far distant. To +turn back, however, and afterwards take a different route, would be as +dangerous as to advance, as we should probably have to encounter the +band of Indians with whom we had had the fight, and who would be certain +to try and revenge the death of their warriors. At last it was decided +that the train should continue to advance, and that Mr Tidey, Dio, and +I should push forward on horseback to the fort. We there hoped to +obtain a guide who would conduct us to where water was to be found. Our +horses were in better condition than the rest of the animals with the +exception of those my father and Uncle Denis usually rode. They however +considered it necessary to remain with the train, and to keep their +horses in case of requiring them on an emergency. + +Carrying such provisions as we might require on our backs, with a good +store of ammunition and our rifles slung across our shoulders, we set +out, Mr Tidey having a pocket compass by which we could direct our +course. We hoped to reach the fort in two or three days at furthest, +and we might do so sooner could we find water to refresh our steeds. +Our own water-bottles contained but a small supply, but it was all that +could be spared. My father charged us to keep a watchful look-out for +Indians, and should we see any in the distance, either to hide ourselves +or to trust to the fleetness of our steeds, rather than risk an +encounter. Having bid farewell to my mother, Kathleen, Lily, and Dan, +who was disappointed at not being allowed to accompany us, I joined Mr +Tidey and Dio, and we pushed on ahead of the train. + +The heat was as great as on the previous day, but, as the Dominie +observed, "We must not care for a slight inconvenience of that sort." I +however twisted a white handkerchief round my hat, to keep off the rays +of the sun, and he followed my example. Dio seemed very indifferent to +them, his woolly pate protecting him better than all the artificial +contrivances we could adopt. The only living creatures we saw were +several deer passing in the far distance to the westward. Of course we +could not venture out of our course to chase them. Neither streams nor +water-holes could we discover, and we were obliged at length to encamp +on the open prairie. Having tethered our horses a short distance from +us, where they could crop the grass, wet with the dew of night, and +having eaten our scanty supper, we lay down with our saddles for +pillows, taking it by turns to keep watch. The stars shone brightly out +overhead, enabling us to see a considerable way from our camp, but as I +walked up and down during my watch, I could discern no objects besides +our three horses, though I continually cast my eyes round the horizon. +I occasionally heard the distant yelp of a pack of coyotes, though they +were too far off to be perceived and did not come near enough otherwise +to annoy us. + +I was thankful when Mr Tidey roused me up. Without waiting for +daylight, as we could see our way without difficulty over the prairie +and guide ourselves by the stars, having strapped on our packs and slung +our rifles over our shoulders, we mounted and rode forward, our animals +going much more briskly than they had done on the previous evening. +When the sun rose the heat became as great as ever and the poor beasts +began to slacken their speed, but eager to get on, we urged them forward +with spur and rein until we began to fear that they would break down +altogether. Suddenly, however, pricking up their ears and stretching +out their necks, they broke into a gallop. + +"They smell water, though we can see no signs of it," observed Mr +Tidey. + +"Yes! dare, dare some trees!" cried Dio. + +In a short time we perceived what his sharp sight had previously +discovered. It was the bed of a stream. The horses, turning on one +side, made their way down the bank to a small hole which as yet +contained water, though had we gone straight forward we should not have +discovered it, for the greater portion of the bed was perfectly dry. +Almost stagnant as the water was, we thankfully quenched our thirst with +it, and the horses having drank their fill, we led them again up the +bank, where some coarse herbage grew, sufficient to satisfy their +hunger. Having tethered them, we sat down to eat the first food we had +taken that day. As it was important that the train should obtain water, +long before they could reach this supply, we settled to continue our +course to the fort. + +We had just risen to our feet and were lifting up our saddles to put on +our horses' backs, when we saw Dio's animal give a start and almost +break its tether; directly afterwards mine, which was feeding near, also +started back, and I caught a glimpse of the head and neck of a snake. +At the same moment the peculiar sound caused by the tail of the +rattle-snake reached our ears. We ran forward, fearing that Mr Tidey's +horse might also be bitten, and holding our rifles ready to shoot the +creature, but it glided away through the grass, and though we heard its +rattle, we could not catch sight of it. We anxiously examined the +horses' heads, and found that they had both been bitten on the lip; as, +however, they did not appear to suffer, we mounted, hoping that no evil +consequences would ensue. + +"At all events we must gallop on and get to the fort as soon as +possible," said Mr Tidey, "and if we reach it soon, we may be able to +apply some remedies to counteract the poison." + +For some time our spirited little animals went willingly enough, but at +length they both began to flag, and on looking down I saw that their +heads and necks had begun to swell. The swelling increased until they +were fearfully disfigured, while their nostrils and gums became swollen, +and discharged a clear mucus. Still on they went, though their pace +became slower and slower, and it was evident that they could only walk +with the greatest difficulty. At last we were obliged to dismount, lest +they should roll over with us on the ground. On looking at them we +found that their eyes were glassy, the pupils greatly dilated, while the +hair on their backs seemed literally to stand on end. To mount again +would have been useless, but unwilling to abandon them, we led them +forward as fast as they could move. Mr Tidey constantly stood up +looking out more anxiously than ever for the fort, but no object broke +the line of the horizon to the westward. Sometimes we thought that we +might possibly have passed it, and then we hoped against hope that we +should reach it even now before dark. Still the day wore on, and our +poor horses followed us with feeble steps, and it was pitiable to look +at them, so swollen and disfigured had they become, their faces +resembling hippopotami rather than terrestrial steeds. At last Dio's +stumbled and fell; nothing which we could do would induce the poor +creature to rise, so we were obliged to leave him to become ere long the +prey of the coyotes, should they venture to devour a poisoned animal. +Mine, which had perhaps not received so much of the venom in its system +as the other, still followed me, but it moved so slowly that I was +compelled to lag behind my companions. The sun set and still nowhere +could we discover the fort; there seemed every probability that we +should have to spend another night on the open prairie, without fire, +food, or shelter, or a drop of water to quench our thirst. That my poor +animal could survive appeared impossible, and even Mr Tidey's horse +suffered greatly. + +"It seems doubtful whether my poor brute will be able to move a leg +to-morrow, and if so, we shall all three have to trudge forward on +foot," he observed. + +"Then I would advise you to gallop on at once while there is any +daylight, and perhaps you may reach the fort and be able to send us +help," I answered. + +"No, no, I cannot leave you and Dio alone on the prairie. Should any +harm happen to you I should never forgive myself," he answered. + +"But by going on alone you may obtain assistance, and in reality serve +us more than by remaining behind," I replied. Still I could not +persuade the Dominie to desert us, and we trudged on as before. + +Mr Tidey had called Dio to his side and they were some way before me, +when I saw them both stop. Dio pointed ahead, while Mr Tidey leaned +eagerly forward. Presently a large animal came out of a hollow in which +it had previously been concealed. Moving on I saw to my satisfaction +that it was one of a herd of tame cattle feeding at the bottom of the +hollow. Instead of running away when we approached, they came lowing +up, as if well accustomed to the sight of white men. + +"Hurrah! the fort cannot be far off unless the herd has strayed away +from it," exclaimed Mr Tidey; "at all events it is some encouragement +to move forward, and perhaps before long we shall find ourselves among +friends." + +"It is not likely that we should be able to distinguish the fort at any +great distance, but I see a hill rising up against the sky, and perhaps +we shall find it in that direction," I observed. + +While I was speaking, Mr Tidey's horse made a bolt down the slope, and +presently, as the cattle moved aside, I saw a pool of water which, +though muddy from the animals having trod in it, afforded a refreshing +draught to his poor steed. Mine was too weak even to drink, and I +feared that if it once got into the pool it would not have strength to +get out again. We now advanced in somewhat better spirits than before. +The condition of my horse, however, delayed me; but, in the hopes of +obtaining some remedies to save its life, I still led it on. We had not +got far when Mr Tidey, who, as usual, was looking about in every +direction, exclaimed-- + +"I see a party of horsemen in the distance. If they are Indians and +come near us, we must stop and drive them off. I can count but six; two +a-piece, and we each of us must settle one of those as soon as they come +within range of our bullets. In the meantime we will keep on as we are +going, and if the fort is at hand, it may be that they will think it +wise to keep at a distance." + +Looking steadily in the direction the Dominie pointed, I could but just +discern some figures appearing against the sky above the horizon, but +whether Indians or white men I was unable to determine. I kept watching +them anxiously. In a short time Dio cried out-- + +"Dey come dis way! dey come dis way!" + +"Never mind, if they come nearer than we like, we must send them to the +right-about," observed Mr Tidey calmly. + +I could, however, see that the strangers were approaching at a rapid +rate, and it would soon be necessary for us to get ready to receive +them. + +Mr Tidey frequently turned his head over his left shoulder, but still +rode on. + +"Had we not better stop?" I asked, "they will be down upon us +presently." + +The Dominie pulled up, and attentively regarded the approaching +strangers. "All right!" he exclaimed, "they are friends; I see their +uniforms, we shall not have to fight for our lives this time." + +In a few minutes the strangers were up to us. They proved to be a +scouting party led by a sergeant, and had come out from the fort on +learning that a band of Indians on the war-path had been seen in the +neighbourhood, but on discovering us they had ridden up to ascertain who +we were. The sergeant gave us the satisfactory intelligence that the +fort was not half a mile ahead. "You cannot miss it," he observed, "if +you keep straight on as you are going, but we must ride round and drive +in some cattle which have strayed away, or we shall have them carried +off by those thieves of redskins." + +We followed the advice of the sergeant; still, though according to our +calculation we had gone the distance he had mentioned, we could not in +the gloom distinguish the fort. Presently, however, a shot whistled +past Mr Tidey's ears, which made him suddenly bob his head, and a voice +was heard crying out in an Irish accent-- + +"Who goes there?" + +"Friends, who would be obliged to you to challenge first and shoot if +they prove to be enemies," answered the Dominie. + +The next instant we found ourselves in front of a stockade above which +appeared the roofs of some low buildings, while in front we could +distinguish some mounds only a few feet above the level of the plain. +On reaching a gate between the mounds, guarded by two stone towers of +little more elevation than the stockades, it was opened, and on entering +we found several soldiers. + +One of them took Mr Tidey's horse, and another was about to take the +rein of mine, when he exclaimed-- + +"What creature have we here? never saw an animal with such a face as +this!" + +I was explaining what had happened, when a sergeant appeared from the +guard-room. + +"We will get the doctor to have a look at him, and see if anything can +be done for the poor brute," he said in a compassionate tone. + +I thanked him. Mr Tidey gave the message from my father, entreating +that assistance might be sent to the relief of our train. + +"You had better see the commandant, who will judge what is best to be +done," was the answer; and leaving our sorry steeds in charge of the +soldiers, we accompanied the sergeant. The commanding officer received +us kindly, and told us that if the report of Indians being in the +neighbourhood should prove true, it was too probable that our train +would be attacked. + +"I will, however, at dawn to-morrow, send out a party to their +assistance," he added, "and I hope that they may arrive in time to drive +off the redskins, should any have fallen in with your friends." + +We both urged that they might be sent off at once, but the commandant +replied that it would be impossible to do so until the party we had met +returned with the cattle, as he could not weaken the garrison, already +scarcely sufficient for the defence of the place. + +With this promise we were obliged to be content, he offering also to +supply Dio and me with horses that we might accompany the party, which I +hoped to be able to do after some rest, though just then, overcome by +hunger and fatigue, I was scarcely able to move. I felt much revived by +the supper which the commandant ordered at once to be placed on the +table. He afterwards accompanied us out to see how it fared with my +poor horse. I found that the doctor had been fomenting its wounded lip +with a strong infusion of tobacco, and afterwards poulticing it with the +chopped leaves of the same plant. He had also given the animal half a +pint of whisky slightly diluted, and half an ounce of ammonia. + +"If that doesn't cure it, I don't know what will," he remarked. + +I regretted that Dio's horse was too far off to receive assistance-- +indeed, probably by that time the poor animal was dead. The commandant +afterwards took us round the fort, remarking-- + +"Perhaps before the night is over we may be attacked, and it is as well +that you should know the localities." + +In the centre were the barracks with the officers' quarters' on one +side, the stables on the other, and a barn for the stowage of hay and +other stores. Behind us was a yard in which the horses could be turned +loose. + +From these buildings, four subterranean passages, about three feet wide +and five high, led each to a rifle-pit beyond the stockades, about +twelve feet long and ten wide, roofed over with stone supported by +wood-work. + +Just on a level with the ground, below the roof, were loop-holes opening +on all sides. In racks round the walls of these pits were placed a +number of rifles, all loaded and ready for immediate use; so that, as +the commandant explained, should a whole army of redskins approach, the +garrison would be at once prepared to give them a warm reception. + +The account he gave us of trains stopped and emigrants massacred +increased my eagerness to set out to the assistance of our friends. By +his advice, therefore, we turned in to try and get some rest. I could +not sleep, however, but lay awake listening for the return of the +soldiers who had been sent to bring in the cattle; for as the distance +was not great, I calculated that they ought to have arrived not long +after us, and I began to fear that they must have encountered the +Indians, and perhaps themselves have been cut off. Overcome, however, +with fatigue, I at length dropped off into a troubled slumber. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +THE RELIEF PARTY SET OFF--ON THE PRAIRIE--INDIANS DISCOVERED ATTACKING +THE TRAIN--OUR CHARGE--NO QUARTER ASKED NOR GIVEN--MY FATHER AND UNCLE +WOUNDED--THE TRAIN DELAYED AT FORT HAMILTON--PROVISIONS RUN SHORT--A +HUNTING-PARTY ARRANGED--A HERD OF WAPITI--DOG TOBY ON THE SICK-LIST-- +CHASING THE DEER--A GAME AT FOLLOW MY LEADER--A FIGHT BETWEEN STAGS--THE +MYSTERIOUS SHOT--THE SOLITARY HUNTER. + +I was aroused by feeling a hand on my shoulder, and looking up, I saw +Mr Tidey by the light of a lamp which burned on the table. + +"It will soon be dawn," he said; "the troopers are preparing to set off. +But you are knocked up, Mike, and had better sleep on. I should have +let you do so, but I did not like to set off without telling you that I +was going. I hope, however, that we shall soon meet our friends, and +find them all safe and sound." + +"I must go!" I cried, jumping up; "the commandant will lend me a horse, +as my own is not likely to be of much use, even if the poor brute is +still alive." + +Notwithstanding the Dominie's expostulations, I was quickly ready. The +commandant was on foot. Sympathising with my anxiety, he at once +ordered a horse to be saddled for me. The eight troopers who were to +accompany us mounted, and directly afterwards a half-breed guide made +his appearance. + +"He will conduct your train, wherever you may fall in with it, to the +nearest stream or water-hole," observed the commandant. "I cannot +promise you that your friends have not been attacked, as the Indians are +certainly in the neighbourhood, and have carried off some of our cattle; +but I trust that, should such be the case, they will hold out until you +arrive." + +This remark increased my anxiety, and made me more eager than ever to be +off. I was looking out for Dio, and was inquiring for him, when he +appeared mounted on a little mustang, with a brace of pistols in his +belt, a soldier's carbine slung over his back, and a sword by his side. + +"Dey no want me to go," he said, "but I say I fight as well as dey." + +I said I was very glad he had come, and inquired for my horse, which, to +my satisfaction, he informed me was still alive, and that the doctor +thought it would recover. I was thankful to have Dio with us, for he +was as brave as man could be, and I could rely on him in any emergency. +We thus formed a party of twelve, and the troopers considered themselves +capable of coping with any Indians we were likely to encounter. The +sergeant in command of the party was a cautious man, and, afraid of +knocking up the horses, would not move as fast as I in my impatience +desired. We had, however, made good about four or five miles when day +dawned. As we moved on, we kept a look-out for Indians on both sides, +not knowing in what direction they might appear; but even should they +have crossed our course, we could not in the darkness discover their +trail. As the light increased, our guide searched diligently for it, +but he declared that he could perceive no signs of Indians having +recently passed that way, though he observed the trail which we had made +on the previous evening. At length I saw some way ahead the wings of +several large birds flapping just above the ground. As we drew nearer, +six or seven turkey buzzards rose into the air, and circling round flew +to a short distance, where they remained watching us. They had been +feeding on the body of Dio's horse, utterly indifferent to the venom +with which the flesh was impregnated. We kept to windward of it, and +directly we had passed the foul birds flew back to their banquet. This +showed us that the guide had led us aright, and that we could trust him. +Losing patience, I entreated the sergeant to move on faster, reminding +him that even should our friends not be attacked by the Indians, they +were certainly suffering from want of water. He inquired how far off I +calculated we should find the train. + +"From fourteen to twenty miles," I answered, "though, as I hope that +they may have been able to move on, perhaps they may be still nearer." + +He still hesitated, but Mr Tidey joining his entreaties to mine, he put +his horse into a gallop, ordering his men to advance. We now moved +forward at as fast a rate as I could desire, the guide keeping his eye +on the ground. Mile after mile of the level prairie was quickly +covered, we in the mean time looking out for the plumed heads of any +redskins which might show themselves above the horizon. Noon was +approaching. I saw the guide attentively examining the ground. + +"Indians have passed this way, but they have swept round again, off to +the southward. It would take us much out of our way to follow up their +trail, and I think it likely that we shall fall in with it again." + +"I hope not," I remarked; "for if so, they may discover our train." + +He shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. The ground had now become +more uneven than heretofore. Before us rose an undulating hill of no +great elevation, but of sufficient height to prevent us from seeing any +distance to the eastward, and we had to rein in our horses as we mounted +it. On reaching the top, the sergeant gave the order to halt, unslung +his telescope, and swept the horizon from north to south. + +"There's the train," he exclaimed, "coming this way, about three miles +off." Directly afterwards he added, "and there to the southward I see a +troop of mounted Indians; there must be a hundred or more of them. They +have discovered the train, and are galloping towards it as fast as their +horses can go, hoping, I doubt not, to gain an easy victory." + +Borrowing the Dominie's glass, I took a look through it, when to my +dismay I perceived that the Indians were much nearer the train than we +were, and might have time to swoop down upon it and be off again before +we could arrive. My father apparently had not discovered them. While, +however, I was still looking through the telescope, I saw the leading +waggons stop and the others move up. I had no doubt that my father, +having discovered the approaching foe, as preparing to meet them by +forming a square. Just then the sergeant cried out-- + +"We must ride direct for the train, as we shall not be in time to cut +off the redskins before they reach it. Forward!" + +On we dashed at headlong speed. We had far to go, and in some places +the ground was uneven; but if we were to save our friends from being cut +to pieces, we must not pull rein until we were up to them. On and on we +pressed. The train, formed in square, came in sight to the naked eye, +as did the body of Indians who appeared close to it. Except the tramp +of our horses over the yielding ground, not a sound was heard, until +suddenly some puffs of smoke were seen and the rattle of musketry +reached our ears. The Indians halted for an instant, but they were too +far off to enable us to see whether or not they shot their arrows at the +camp. Again and again the sound of fire-arms was heard, followed by +war-whoops which, even at that distance, had a fearful sound. A belt of +trees by the side of a dry water-course concealed the Indians from view, +and, their eyes being fixed on their expected prey, they had hitherto +probably not seen us. Louder and louder grew the noise of fighting, +showing us that our friends were still holding out. I knew full well +indeed that my father and uncle would fight to the last. Whether they +had discovered that succour was at hand, we could not tell. It would +not have prevented them from fighting hard, but it would have encouraged +the men to hold out till we had reached them. + +The sergeant, when he heard the sounds of battle was as eager to press +forward as we were. The combatants at length saw us coming. Our own +people raised a lusty cheer, while the Indians reined in their steeds, +probably supposing, as we galloped on surrounded by clouds of dust, that +a large body of cavalry were upon them. Some of the chiefs turned their +horses' heads to meet us, but we, charging furiously at them, pistolled +some and cut down others, while the rest wheeling round galloped off, +hoping to get beyond the reach of our shot. Before, however, they could +do so, we pulled up and fired a volley at them, which emptied several +saddles. While we were reloading they got out of our reach. The +troopers then sweeping over the ground sabred all who had fallen and +still showed signs of life. Not a prisoner was taken. + +"You came in the nick of time," said my father; "for we were fearfully +overmatched, and many had been wounded,--your uncle, I fear, very +badly." + +I saw to my dismay, as he spoke, that an arrow was sticking in his own +side, while Uncle Denis lay under a waggon where he had crawled, his +head bleeding, and with two severe wounds in the leg and shoulder. +Martin Prentis and three of the other men were also badly hurt. They +were all crying out for water, as not a drop remained, and the cattle, +they said, could scarcely proceed. My mother, as may be supposed, was +fearfully agitated and alarmed, as were the two little girls; but they +were cheered by hearing from the guide that a stream existed about two +miles on, nearer the fort. + +The wearied oxen were therefore at once again yoked up, and we knew that +they would eagerly press on the moment they scented the water. + +The Dominie and I, aided by my mother, lost no time in attending to the +wounded. My father insisted on waiting until Uncle Denis had been +looked to, while Dio and Dan gave their aid to the other wounded men. + +We first sawed off the head of the arrow sticking in my uncle's +shoulder. This done, the shaft was extracted; and his other wounds +being bound up, we placed him in one of the waggons. + +We had next to perform the same operation on my father, who bore the +pain without flinching. He then consented to lie down in the waggon, +when, the train being ready, we moved forward, led by the guide. + +Soon after we had started, I saw Dio galloping off with a couple of skin +bottles over his saddle. My fear was that the Indians would discover +him, and cut him off, but he was quickly out of sight. In a wonderfully +short time he came galloping back again with both the bottles full. + +His arrival was hailed with gratitude by the wounded men. The fresh +water he had brought greatly revived them. Even those who had not been +hurt were complaining bitterly of thirst. We could scarcely restrain +the eagerness of the cattle as they reached the water. The sergeant, +however, would not allow us to remain longer than was absolutely +necessary to enable the cattle to quench their thirst, stating that his +orders were to return as soon as possible to the fort. This indeed, for +the sake of my father and uncle and the other wounded men, we were +anxious to do. + +We kept, as may be supposed, a look-out for the Indians. The lesson +they had received, however, had taught them that we were not to be +attacked with impunity, but we saw them from time to time hovering in +the distance. + +Night set in while we were still far from the fort, but the sergeant +advising us to keep on, we did so, but it was nearly midnight when we +arrived. The commandant received us most kindly, giving up his own room +to my mother and her young charges, while my father and Uncle Denis were +skilfully treated by the surgeon of the garrison, as were the other +wounded men. His opinion was, however, that they would be utterly unfit +to continue their journey for some time to come. This was a severe +trial to them, as they were anxious to proceed in spite of the dangers +we were likely to encounter. The commandant, however, kindly invited us +to remain until they were in a fit state to travel. + +So effectually had the surgeon treated my horse, that the animal +recovered rapidly, and in a couple of weeks, though somewhat thin, was +fit for work. + +Scouts were daily sent out to watch the movements of the Indians, but +the lesson they had received when attacking our train appeared to have +produced a good effect, as none were discovered in the neighbourhood. +It was hoped, therefore, that they had taken their departure to the +southward, and that we might not be molested. The fort was, however, +provisioned only for its proper garrison, and as the stores we had +brought were nearly exhausted, a difficulty arose about feeding so many +additional mouths. Anxious as was the commanding officer to be +hospitable, he could not use the provisions required for his own men. +He therefore inquired whether any of our party were hunters, as he could +not venture to allow any of his own officers or men to go out in search +of game. + +"We will start off at once, then, Mike!" said Mr Tidey to me when he +heard this, "and soon prove, I hope, that we do not wish to eat the +bread of idleness." + +Dio begged that he might accompany us, and Dan wished that he might come +also; but our mother, fearing the dangers to which we might be exposed, +was unwilling to let him go, and he without a word of complaint gave up +the idea. The commandant supplied Dio and me with two good horses, and +the Dominie had his own, which after a few days' rest was perfectly fit +for work. + +Taking with us four horses to bring home the game we expected to kill, +and followed by Boxer and Toby, we started off. A river, I should have +said, flowing from the northward, swept near the fort, and then ran +south-west. Although the country immediately round was open, about five +or six miles off was, we were told, a forest about ten miles long and +several deep, with open glades, in which, as there existed abundance of +grass, deer were sure to be found, as well as other animals. We had no +difficulty in finding our way, and in a short time came in sight of the +borders of the wood. + +We of course kept a look-out for Indian trails, but we could discover +none. We rode on in full expectation of having good sport. We had not +got more than half a mile into the wood, when we caught sight of a dozen +or more wapiti feeding in a large glade. To approach them on horseback +would be impossible; we therefore dismounted and crept round under +shelter of the brushwood, hoping to get within easy shot of them. After +going some distance, the glade sweeping round to the left more than we +had expected, we found to our disappointment that we could not approach +within three hundred yards without being discovered. + +"We must return to our horses, and try to reach them from the other +side," whispered Mr Tidey. "Do you stay here, Dio, and if they come in +this direction you may bring one of them down, but keep back the dogs, +unless you see that you with them can turn the herd back towards us." + +By keeping on our hands and knees until we ran no risk of being seen by +the deer, we regained our steeds, and then rode to the westward for +nearly half a mile, when we once more tied them up and made our way in +the same fashion as before towards the herd. By looking through the +brushwood we could see them feeding unsuspicious of danger, when just as +we expected to be able to bring down a couple, greatly to our +disappointment a fine antlered fellow, the watchman of the band, lifted +up his head with a startled look, and the whole herd following him moved +off. At first we thought that they were going up the glade, but instead +of so doing they approached the spot where Dio was concealed. The next +instant we heard a shot, and the affrighted herd bounded off at full +speed. We saw, however, that one, a fine stag, by the way he moved was +wounded, and presently the dogs, let loose by Dio, turned him from the +course he was pursuing, and once more he approached us; suddenly he +stopped, and, lowering his head, rushed at the dogs, and lifting one in +the air threw it on its back. Immediately afterwards, while attempting +to treat the other in the same way, down he came on his knees. He was +still, however, a formidable antagonist, and might make poor Boxer pay +dearly for his boldness. The Dominie rushed forward to the dog's +rescue, but as there was a risk of wounding him, as well as the stag, I +refrained from firing. The Dominie, more confident, lifted his rifle, +and the stag rolled over dead. We ran forward to seize our prize. Dio +did not appear. + +"He perhaps has gone round to bring up the other horses, or he may hope +to get another shot at the herd," observed the Dominie, as he drew out +his knife and commenced flaying the deer. + +My first impulse was to see how it fared with poor Toby. He licked my +hand, and struggled to get on his feet. I was at first afraid that his +ribs were broken, but I could discover no wound, and after a few minutes +he began to revive, and tried to crawl up to share in the feast Boxer +was enjoying. We had nearly completed our task, when we heard another +shot, and after a short time Dio appeared at the end of the glade, +leading the two horses. He brought the satisfactory intelligence that +he had killed another deer. We accordingly packed up the meat, and +having placed Toby, who was still unable to walk, on the top of the +cargo, guided by Dio we mounted and proceeded to the spot where the +animal had fallen. Hitherto the black had been the most successful of +the party, but we did not grudge him the honour. We afterwards killed +two more deer; the Dominie shot one, and I the other. Our horses laden +with the welcome supply, we turned our faces towards the fort. + +It was one of several equally successful expeditions we undertook, and +so pleased was the commandant with the amount of meat we brought in, +that he begged we would remain as long as we pleased, assuring us that +we paid amply for whatever other stores we consumed. My father and +uncle were now almost recovered, and proposed that we should continue +our journey in a few days. Mr Tidey and I agreed in the mean time to +make another expedition in search of game, hoping to catch enough to +take a supply with us, and leave the remainder with our friends. On +this occasion Dan got leave to accompany us, and he, with Dio and Martin +Prentis, formed our party. We had three pack-horses, and followed by +our two dogs, we set off. + +Dan was in high spirits. + +"Even if we do fall in with any Indians, we shall be able to give a good +account of them, I hope," he said, laughing; "they would be bold fellows +to attempt attacking five well-mounted men." + +Dan stood up in his stirrups, and looked as big as he could. + +Mr Tidey smiled, and observed, "You have the heart of a giant, Dan, +though I don't know that a red warrior would reckon you as a man." + +"But I can fire a rifle and pistol, and my bullets may tell as well as +those of bigger people," answered Dan, a little indignant at the remark. + +We had determined to go farther from the fort than we had hitherto done, +as the game in the wood we had before hunted in had become scarce, +frightened away by the report of our fire-arms. As we proceeded, we +found the traces of deer become more and more abundant. Frequently we +came suddenly upon one, which started off before we could get a shot. +Now and then we caught sight of a long file of antelopes, who, however, +took care to keep out of our way, and we might as well have chased the +wind as have attempted to overtake them on horseback. It was curious to +observe the manner they imitated the movements of their leader. +Sometimes he would turn round his white breast, and then exhibit his red +flank, when at the same moment a whole line of white breasts or red +flanks were to be seen. Then he would stop, when they would all stop at +once; then he would stamp and advance a step, they all, obedient to the +signal, doing the same. The Dominie remarked that it reminded him of +when he was at school and he and his companions played follow my leader. +Again the headmost animal would wheel to the right, as did his +followers. At last, carrying on this game for some time, they suddenly +winded us and away they all scampered as fast as their agile legs would +carry them, like clouds before the gale. + +Although game was thus abundant on the open prairie, we were as well +aware that we should not load our horses, unless we took proper measures +to get near the deer; as the angler is, who sees the fish leap through +the calm surface of a lake in the bright sunshine, that he will not fill +his basket if he does not use the right bait. + +There was a wood away to the right, which would, we hoped, afford us an +ambush and enable us to conceal our steeds. We accordingly rode towards +it. As we were moving along the Dominie suddenly pulled up. + +"Look at that trail," he said; "that is not the foot-mark of a deer, or +buffalo, or a wolf. If ever I saw the print of a moccasin, that is one. +See, however, the toes are pointing from the wood, though the red-skin, +when he found that he was stepping on soft ground, sprang back, but +probably did not think it worth while to obliterate the mark." + +"Possibly there was only a single hunter, and he can do us no harm, even +if he should desire it," I observed; "perhaps indeed, that is the print +of a white man's foot, for many wear moccasins, even in summer." + +We searched about, but although we discovered several marks which we +believed were produced by human feet, we could not be certain. Had an +Indian been with us he would have solved the question in a minute. We +therefore remounted, and believing that we were not likely to fall in +with enemies, continued our course. + +We soon reached the wood, which was very similar in character to the one +we had before hunted in, with an undergrowth of willows near a stream, +while in other places were clumps of wild rose trees, still covered with +bloom. Penetrating into the wood, we selected a spot for our camp, +where we could leave our horses under charge of Martin and Dan while we +went in search of game. In a short time we reached the borders of a +glade, in which, from the appearance of the grass, we hoped to see some +deer browsing. + +After proceeding some distance we caught sight of a herd at the farther +end coming leisurely own towards us, cropping the grass on their way. +The wind blowing from them to us, we settled to remain concealed behind +some thick bushes until they should come within range of our rifles. +Presently a fine stag advanced ahead of the herd. He halted when still +too far off to give us a hope of killing him. His movements were +singular, as he pawed the ground and butted with his horns. The reason +of this was soon apparent, for from the opposite side another stag +issued forth from among the trees, and advanced rapidly towards him. On +seeing his antagonist, the first rushed to meet him, and the two stags +engaged in a fierce combat. We might possibly have got close enough to +shoot both, but by so doing we should have lost our chance of killing +any of the rest of the herd, whose flesh was of more value than that of +the old stags. + +We were waiting the issue of the battle, supposing that the deer would +then approach, when we heard a shot and caught sight of a number of +animals scampering across the glade. The report of the gun came from an +opposite direction to that of our camp. For an instant I thought that +Dio must have crept away, but looking round I saw that he was close to +us, the shot must therefore have been fired by a stranger, who could not +have been aware of our vicinity. Fearing to lose the stags, we sprang +forward; at the same time our two dogs dashed out. Mr Tidey aimed at +one of the animals and I at the other. Though both fell, each creature, +under the belief that his hurt had been received from his antagonist, +though brought to the ground, continued to butt furiously at the other, +until the dogs came up, and they turned their rage towards them. We +stopped to reload and call off the dogs, for fear of their being +injured. But the stags were fast succumbing from loss of blood; and +getting up to them, we put an end to their struggles. + +We were still standing over their bodies, forgetting for a moment the +shot we had heard, when Dio shouted out-- + +"See dare, see dare!" + +Looking up the glade, we saw a man in hunter's garb, who, having sprang +out of the wood, had seized by the horns a wounded deer which was +endeavouring to escape. The animal was making violent efforts to +release itself, throwing back its head in a way which made it difficult +for him to hold on. To protect himself he lifted up his rifle; one of +the deer's hoofs missed him, but the other struck his weapon, and +breaking his ramrod, brought him down on his knees. The creature was +now about to renew the attack and a blow from his hoof might have +shattered his skull, or at least have seriously injured him. Not a +moment was to be lost. Scarcely thinking of the danger I ran of +wounding the stranger, I lifted my rifle and fired, when the deer +bounding up fell lifeless on its back. The stranger, rising from his +knees, advanced towards us. He was a good-looking youngish man, though +his face, naturally fair, was bronzed by summer suns and winter blasts. +He was dressed in a blue blanket coat trimmed with red, a cloth cap of +the same colour, with a broad peak, and ornamented moccasins. An axe +and long knife were stuck in his belt; he had a serviceable-looking +rifle in his hand, and behind his shoulders was strapped a pack, +containing his buffalo robe and blanket, some provisions apparently; and +several other requisite articles. He put out his hand in a frank manner +as he walked up to Mr Tidey. + +"You have done me a service, friend; for that animal showed more fight +than I expected, and might have injured me severely had not your shot +taken effect, though it narrowly missed my head, I suspect." + +"Very glad to have been of use to you, but here's the person you should +thank," said the Dominie, pointing to me. + +"I confess that it would have been more prudent not to have fired, for +fear of hitting you," I answered as he shook me by the hand. + +"Though it was a risk, I am equally thankful. The shot was well aimed, +and you have the right to the venison, my young friend," he said, +looking at me. + +We told him that we had no wish to deprive him of it, but he insisted +that the deer should be ours. We settled the point, however, by making +him take a haunch, which was all he would accept. + +We now sent off Dio to bring up the horses, that we might load them with +the meat: we in the meantime set to work to flay and cut up the animals, +assisted by the stranger. + +"You will come to our camp and pass the night with us," said the Dominie +as we were thus engaged. + +To our surprise the stranger declined our invitation. + +"I should prove but a poor companion, for I have been too long +accustomed to live by myself to have any desire to join the society of +my fellows," he answered, turning aside; "if I find that you are exposed +to danger from the redskins, I will give you warning, and may be of +assistance in enabling you to escape from them." + +We in vain pressed him to alter his decision. He waited until the +horses arrived, and having assisted us in packing the meat, took his own +share, put up in a piece of skin, and after bidding us farewell went off +in an opposite direction to our camp. We had forgotten to mention the +mark of the moccasin we had seen in the morning, but we had little doubt +that the stranger had gone over the ground, and our apprehensions of +Indians being in the neighbourhood were dispelled. We, however, kept as +usual a strict watch at night. As our camp was placed in the recesses +of the wood, we knew that our fire could not be perceived at any +distance beyond it. + +As we sat round the cheerful blaze of the fire, we naturally talked of +the stranger, wondering who he could be. His dress was that of a +Canadian trapper, but he spoke without any French accent, and the +Dominie remarked that he recognised a touch of the Irish brogue on his +tongue. + +"It is odd that he should prefer camping out by himself, to joining us, +when he might sleep in much greater security than he can all alone," I +observed. + +"Tastes differ, and although it is not complimentary to us, he may +prefer his own society to ours," answered the Dominie, laughing. + +"Perhaps he is on bad terms with the garrison of the fort, and +consequently does not wish to associate with us, because we have been +staying there," remarked Dan. + +"It may be that he has shot one of them, or sided with the Indians, or +has committed some offence against the Government," said Martin. + +"We might talk all night, and yet come to no satisfactory conclusion," +replied the Dominie, "and now, it's time to turn in, to be ready for our +work to-morrow morning." + +We accordingly lay down wrapped in our blankets round the fire, Martin +taking the first watch. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +A TIMELY WARNING--THE PURSUIT--INDIAN HORSEMEN--THE CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT-- +A SHARP SKIRMISH--DIO SAVES MY FATHER'S LIFE--PREPARATIONS FOR +CONTINUING OUR JOURNEY--I ENCOUNTER THE SOLITARY HUNTER--USEFUL +INFORMATION--REJOIN THE TRAIN--FIRST SIGHT OF THE MOUNTAINS--THE "GROSSE +CORNE"--LOOKING OUT FOR A PASS--MOUTH OF THE CANON DISCOVERED--A GLOOMY +PASSAGE--OVERTAKEN BY DARKNESS IN THE GORGE--FIRST GLIMPSE OF "SMILING +VALLEY"--SELECTION OF THE SITE OF OUR FUTURE HOME--BRINGING THE WAGGONS +OVER THE MOUNTAINS. + +The stars were shining brightly in the sky, the fire casting a glare on +the trunks and branches of the surrounding trees beyond which was +darkest gloom, when having been aroused by the Dominie, I took the +morning watch. + +No sound broke the stillness which reigned through the forest at that +period of the night. Feeling still drowsy, and afraid of dropping off +to sleep again should I sit down, I continued pacing backwards and +forwards, now approaching one side of the glade, now the other, +occasionally giving the fire a poke, or throwing on a few sticks. +Though I had no fear of Indians, a bear or panther, or a pack of hungry +wolves, might pay us a visit, attracted by the smell of the venison +which was packed and ready for transport. As the trees shut out the +view to the eastward, I could only judge when day was approaching by +observing the stars beginning to grow dim. I had gone farther than +usual from the camp-fire, towards the west, when, as I stopped for a +moment, I thought I heard a sound among the underwood in that direction, +as of branches pushed aside and feet pressed on dry leaves. + +Expecting to see some animal break through, I brought my gun ready to +shoot, when much to my surprise a man stepped forth from out of the +darkness. + +Supposing him to be an Indian and that he might be followed by a number +of others with scalping-knives in their hands, I slowly retreated, +holding my gun ready for action. + +"Do not fire, my friend," said a voice which I recognised as that of the +stranger we had met the previous day. "I come as I promised, to give +you warning should you be in danger. I have discovered that a party of +redskins are out on the war-path, and that you are certain to fall in +with them should you continue hunting. I would advise you forthwith to +saddle your horses and return to the fort." + +I thanked the stranger for his information and instantly aroused my +companions; he repeated what he had said to Mr Tidey, advising him to +lose no time in starting. + +"I will guide you by the shortest cut out of the wood," he said; "after +that you must push on as fast as your horses can go, and you may keep +ahead of the savages, who are now away to the westward, but will soon +discover your trail, and seeing that you are a small party, will be +certain to follow you up." The idea for a moment glanced across my mind +that perhaps the stranger wished to get rid of us, for the sake of +having all the sport to himself, but his frank air and the earnest tone +in which he spoke made me banish the suspicion. Without a moment's +delay all hands set to work to get ready for starting, our friend +energetically assisting us. Our pack-animals were soon ready and our +steeds saddled. + +"Now we will be off," said the stranger, and going ahead he led the way, +winding in and out among the trees at so rapid a rate, that we could +with difficulty keep him in sight. Every now and then he turned, +however, to ascertain that we were following. He evidently seemed to +consider that not a moment was to be lost. At length the border of the +wood was gained. + +"You can make your way now by yourselves," he said; "the dawn will soon +break, and the rising sun will serve to guide you. Keep slightly to the +right, and you will pass the confines of the next wood. The ground is +even for some miles, and if you press forward as fast as your horses can +go, I trust that you may keep ahead of your enemies. They are sure to +discover your trail, and therefore, although you may not see them, when +looking behind, you must not venture to halt. Whether they intend to +attack the fort, I cannot say, but it is as well that the garrison +should be on the alert." + +We thanked him heartily for the important service he had rendered us. + +"But will you not come with us," said Mr Tidey; "you yourself may be +exposed to danger from the Indians." + +"I have been too long in their territory to have any fear on that score, +and know their ways well enough to avoid them," he answered; "but time +is precious; give your horses the rein. On, on!" + +Waving his hand as a farewell, he retreated again into the wood: when I +again looked round he was not to be seen. We galloped forward, the +Dominie, Martin, and Dio leading the pack-animals, which as they were +lightly laden, kept up with us; Dan and I rode alongside each other +ahead of the rest. + +"This is capital fun!" cried my young brother; "I would not have missed +it on any account. I only wish that fine fellow had been with us, and +should we be overtaken by the Indians; we might face about and drive +them back." + +"If we are overtaken, we shall have to do that at all events," I +replied; "but I hope that we may not be compelled to fight them, and I +have no wish to hear their war-whoops in our rear." + +I was not at all certain, however, that those unpleasant sounds would +not reach our ears before we gained the fort. I knew the rate at which +the half-naked savages could scour across the prairie, and when once +they got on our trail, they would, I was convinced, press on at their +utmost speed. But darkness favoured us for some time, though we ran the +risk of one of our horses stepping into a hole or stumbling over the +skeleton of a buffalo or deer, numbers of which strewed the plain. At +length the first streaks of dawn appeared ahead; the light rapidly +increased and the sun which was to guide us rose above the horizon. + +Our horses kept up their speed, seeming to be well aware that an enemy +was behind them. My eyes being dazzled by the bright beams of the sun, +I could scarcely see the way, and had to shade them with my hand, while +I bent forward towards my horse's neck. + +After a few seconds I made out the wood on our left, and knew that we +were pursuing a right course. + +Few words were exchanged by any of the party: at last Dan cried out that +he was getting very hungry, and proposed to stop for breakfast. + +"Our scalps are of more value than the refreshing of our inward man," +answered the Dominie. "We must not think of breakfast, dinner, or +supper, until we get inside the fort, and then we will take all three in +one. Go on, lads, go on." + +Urging on our horses, we had already reached the ground over which we +had previously hunted on our first expedition, and knew the way +perfectly, but still the fort was far distant, and we could not yet +distinguish the flag which waved above it. + +"We shall get in safe enough now, and perhaps be laughed at for running +away from an imaginary foe," cried Dan. + +I was about to answer, when Dio, who had turned in his saddle to look +behind him, exclaimed-- + +"Dare am de Indians. I see de heads of dem an' de horses 'bove de green +grass far 'way." + +We all looked, to be certain that the black was right. There could be +no doubt about the matter. To escape them by concealing ourselves was +impossible, even though the sun might have prevented them as yet from +seeing us. + +They had got hold of our trail and were following that up. All we could +do was to trust to the fleetness of our steeds and endeavour to reach +the fort before they should overtake us. Martin proposed that we should +let go the laden animals as they detained us considerably. + +"We will not do that until the enemy are much nearer than they are now," +answered the Dominie. "On, boys, on! we will still keep ahead of them." + +We used our spurs and whips to encourage our poor beasts, which were +already showing signs of "knocking-up." + +From a glance I took of the pursuing foe, I saw that they were a large +band, against whom it would be useless to make a stand. If overtaken +they would to a certainty kill us for the sake of our scalps. They were +getting nearer and nearer; I looked out anxiously for the fort. At +length the flag appeared in sight; it was a cheering spectacle. + +"Oh, massa, massa, go on!" I heard Dio cry out in an anxious tone. I +turned round; it seemed to me that already the savages were almost near +enough to reach us with their arrows. None of us required urging, but +our panting beasts could scarcely keep their legs. A few moments more +and we might have a shower of missiles whizzing about our heads. On we +went until we could see the top of the stockades and the buildings in +the fort. Still the Indians followed, their dreadful war-whoop burst on +our ears, making our horses tremble. It was enough to do so, for no +more terrific sound had I ever heard. At length, when it seemed that we +had no chance of escaping, I saw the gate of the fort open, and a party +of horsemen streaming forth came galloping towards us: the Indians saw +them too. They approached, and as they did so opened their ranks to let +us pass through them, and then with a loud cheer, dashing forward, they +charged the enemy. The savages wheeled and fled, but before the +troopers could get up to them the recall was sounded. The commandant +evidently well knew the danger of pursuing so wily a foe, who only fled +that they might turn round at a favourable moment, or that they might +lead their pursuers into an ambush. Soon after the trumpet-call had +been heard and the cavalry had begun to retire, a far larger band than +those who had followed us appeared on the brow of a hill about half a +mile to the southward. + +One of the men cried out that, from their dress and appearance, they +were Cheyennes and Arapahoes, first-rate horsemen. We could see them +clearly against the sky flourishing their spears, their chiefs riding +backwards and forwards in front of their ranks, evidently encouraging +them to come on and attack us. These "buffalo Indians," as they are +called, from spending their time in chase of the shaggy monsters of the +prairie, are accustomed to the saddle from their childhood. They use no +reins, but guide their horses by pressing their heels on whichever side +they wish them to turn, consequently both hands and arms are free to use +their weapons as may be requisite. They carry long spears and powerful +bows, which can shoot their arrows to a great distance, and in their +belts tomahawks, with which they can deal the most deadly blows in a +hand to hand combat. In battle they secure themselves to their saddles, +so that they can bend down on their horses' sides, and thus entirely +hide themselves from the view of their enemies, as they dash forward in +the fight, thus also avoiding the bullets aimed at them. Even when +wounded they are carried away off the field, unless their steeds are +shot down. Our small party of retreating cavalry did not at first +perceive the enemy gathering in their rear, until the trumpet again +sounded, when they halted and faced about. It was not a moment too +soon. Scarcely had they done so, than down swept the savages like a +whirlwind towards them, led by a tall chief with a plume of dark +feathers waving above his head, on a white horse, whooping and shrieking +in the most diabolical manner. We could see their faces through our +glasses, and fierce and terrible they looked, as they held their lances +poised, or their bows bent ready to shoot as they got within range. Our +rear-guard, who were acting as skirmishers, fired, and then fell back on +the main body, with the exception of two or three, who as they were +retreating fell pierced by arrows shot at them from the ranks of the +approaching enemy. Our cavalry were far outnumbered. + +On came the savages, a flight of arrows filled the air, and then, with +reiterated whoops and shrieks, the Indians swooped down upon us. With +sorrow, not unallied with dismay, we saw several of our friends fall +from their saddles, while every trooper was engaged in a deadly struggle +with a dozen foes. Amid the smoke of the fire-arms, we could see the +spears thrusting, sabres and tomahawks gleaming, pistols flashing, +horses plunging and rearing, while shouts and cries rent the air. It +was too evident that our party were getting the worst of it and were +being forced back, over the ground towards the fort. Fresh hordes were +seen coming on, probably those who had before retreated. Again the +trumpet sounded the recall. The commandant now summoned every available +man in the fort; some to garrison the pits, others to advance to the +support of the cavalry. + +We had dismounted and were soon joined by my father and Uncle Denis, +with about twenty men led by the commandant himself. We advanced +rapidly in two parties, so as to allow the troopers to pass between us. +My father took command of one of the parties. As we advanced we could +see horses and men struggling on the ground, many pierced through and +through with arrows; the tall chief stooping down from his horse, seized +one poor fellow and lifting him up, struck him a deadly blow with his +tomahawk and then hurled him back lifeless. + +Some of the troopers, unable to extricate themselves, were still +fighting bravely and dearly selling their lives, while those who could, +obeying the recall, came galloping back. The Indians, now seeing us +advance, the tall chief, dashing forward, with poised spear, was about +to pierce my father, when Dio lifted his rifle and fired. The warrior +bent forward, the blood gushing from his mouth, but still coming on, +when the black, seizing the sabre of a fallen soldier, struck him on the +side and his body fell, his hands touching the ground, while his legs +remained lashed to the saddle. The cross-fire, which, at the word of +command, was poured in on the ranks of the savages, stopped their onward +course. A successful attempt was made, however, to recover the body of +their chief, and his horse though wounded, wheeling round, was seized by +one of the band and carried off, in spite of the bullets aimed at him. +We continued pouring in volley after volley, until the Indians were +beyond our range, but our men fired too high and but few saddles were +emptied after the retreat began. + +The battle had been terribly severe, and we had to mourn the loss of +nearly a dozen men killed and as many wounded. Those who had fallen +were dreadfully mutilated by the savages. Horses and riders had been +stripped of their trappings and clothes, most of the men scalped, with +terrible gashes on their bodies, while all around, the trampled +blood-stained ground showed the fierce struggle which had taken place +before our brave fellows had succumbed. Severe as had been our loss, a +still greater number of the Indians must have been killed, although the +majority had been carried out. None of our party who had gone out on +foot had suffered, shewing how much wiser it would have been had the +garrison remained in the fort, without attempting to pursue the enemy. +The object of the commandant, however, had been to drive the savages to +a distance, and to show them that the white men were as ready to meet +them in the open, as within the protection of the stockades. + +We watched the enemy as they rode slowly back over the hill, carrying +their dead and wounded. Though defeated, we could not be at all certain +that they would not renew the attack during the night. The belief, +however, was, that dispirited by the loss of their chief, they would, +with blackened faces, be mourning for his death and that of the rest of +the warriors who had fallen, instead of thinking of more fighting. + +"It is sad work," observed my father, as we returned from burying our +poor fellows; "the Indians act, of course, according to their instinct, +and consider themselves justified in attacking the forts and trains of +the white men, whom they see advancing to take possession of their +hunting-grounds. I wish that means could be found to induce them to +remain at peace with us, but though over and over again they have signed +treaties they have broken through them whenever they have fancied that +they could gain an advantage by so doing. I do not mean to say for one +moment that the white men are not to blame; they have too often deceived +the Indians and have driven them without compunction from the region +they once called their own. If I could discover a tribe whose +confidence in the pale-faces, as they call us, has not been abused, I +would settle down among them and endeavour by kindness and justice to +work upon their better feelings and induce them to become friends." + +The garrison remained under arms during the night, but it passed off in +quietness, and the next day the scouts who went out reported that the +enemy had moved off to a distance. It was hoped that their chief, who +had instigated them to attack the fort, being dead, they would be +inclined in the future to leave it unmolested. + +We were now all fully prepared to continue our journey, still, anxious +as was my father to proceed, he was unwilling to expose my mother and +the rest of us to the dangers we might have to encounter. On finding +that the country to the westward was at present free from hostile +Indians, we made several hunting expeditions, by which we supplied +ourselves and the fort with fresh provisions. While one day in chase of +a deer which I had wounded, I got separated from my companions. The +animal plunged into a willow brake, and I thought had escaped me. +Finding, however, an opening in the wood, I made my way through it, on +the chance of coming again upon the deer. Calculating the course it was +likely to take, I pushed forward so as to cross it. Coming upon several +splashes of blood, which showed me the direction the deer had gone, I +was following up the trail, when just before me a person rose suddenly +from behind a bush, and to my surprise I recognised the solitary hunter. +I rode towards him, putting out my hand: "I am glad to meet you again," +I said; "though I little expected to do so: I wish to thank you for the +warning you gave us; had it not been for you, we should probably have +been killed by the Indians." + +"I require no thanks," he answered somewhat coldly. + +"We gave the Cheyennes and Arapahoes a lesson they will not forget, and +have been able to hunt since without fear of interruption," I observed. + +I asked him whether he considered that our train could pass on towards +the Rocky Mountains without the risk of being attacked. + +"If you make haste, you may get through; but you must not idle on the +way," he answered; "the savages have united in a grand expedition +against the forts to the southward, and although they will probably be +defeated, it will give them employment for some time to come." + +This was satisfactory intelligence. I thanked him for it. I then asked +him if he had seen a wounded deer pass that way. + +"There lies your game," he answered, leading me forward, where behind a +bush I saw the animal I had wounded. "I was employed in cutting it up +when you appeared," he added; "although I brought it to the ground, your +shot enabled me to kill it, and it is therefore yours. I will help you +to load your horse with the meat." + +I in vain attempted to induce him to take the whole or a portion. "No, +no," he answered, "I have but one mouth to feed, while you have a +garrison to support," and he continued his task. + +"You may have some difficulty in finding your companions," he observed, +when my horse was loaded; "I will lead you to them." + +We set off together. After going some distance he stopped, and, shaking +me by the hand, said-- + +"Go on there, you will soon find your friends; but you need not mention +having met with me." + +This remark convinced me more than ever that the stranger had some +reason for not wishing to have any intercourse with the garrison. I +wished him "good-bye," and he plunging into the forest, I soon rejoined +my companions. + +We returned with a large supply of venison. My father, to whom I +privately communicated the information I had received from the stranger, +announced his intention of setting out next morning. + +The harness during our stay had been put in good order. My horse, +thanks to the remedies applied by the surgeon, had completely recovered, +and we purchased another for Dio. + +Everything being ready at the time appointed, we recommenced our +journey, saluted by the cheers of the garrison. Our course was now +towards the north-west, which would lead us across the Laramie plains, +over a range of the Rocky Mountains, beyond which my father expected +from the report of hunters and trappers to find a fertile region, in +which he would be content to establish himself. We had added, I should +have said, two light carts, in which we intended to transport the +cargoes of the waggons, should we find it impossible to drag them when +laden over the heights. As we travelled on I fully expected to fall in +with the stranger, but day after day went by and he did not make his +appearance. Following the advice given, we halted only to rest our +animals. On such occasions we employed the time in hunting, and seldom +returned without a supply of either buffalo meat or venison. The +Indians we met with appeared disposed to be friendly, or at all events, +seeing our large well-armed party, and the vigilant watch we kept, they +did not venture to interfere with us. We were approaching the range it +was our purpose to cross. We had heard that many of the heights were of +great elevation, but that there were passages or canons between them, +through which we might make our way, provided no enemy should appear to +impede our progress. We had during the last day caught sight of what +appeared a bank of white clouds, their outer edges lighted up by the +rays of the sun. During, however, the next couple of days' journey a +light mist hung over the country, which prevented us from seeing objects +at a distance. Having no longer the fear of Indians, the Dominie, Dan, +and I frequently went ahead, sometimes on horseback and sometimes on +foot, for the purpose of killing game or exploring the way. Thus one +day, the ground being rugged and the waggons making but slow progress, +we had proceeded some distance further than usual when we caught sight, +on the top of a rock, of an animal with long horns, which Dan declared +was a sheep, and which I thought was a deer. + +"Dan is more nearly right, for it is the sheep of these mountains, but +in its habits it is very like the chamois of Switzerland," observed the +Dominie; "we have very little chance of getting that fellow, but we may +kill others if we are on the watch for them. It is the big-horn, or +`grosse corne,' as the French call it, of the Rocky Mountains. It has +already seen us, and away it goes to some place where it knows we cannot +reach it." + +I may as well say that this wild sheep is of stout build, and has feet +stronger and larger than those of the deer. Its light dusky brown +colour is similar to the tint of the rocks among which it lives. About +its ears and neck and legs it carries a small quantity of wool, the rest +of its coat consisting of coarse hair, white on the rump, while the tail +is tipped with black. Both the male and female have horns, those of the +former being remarkable for their enormous size, while those of the +latter somewhat resemble the horns of the ordinary goat. The horns of +some of the sheep we afterwards killed measured upwards of two feet six +inches in length. The head is provided with cartilaginous processes of +great strength, and they with the frontal bone form one strong mass of +so solid a nature that the animal can, when making his escape, fling +himself on his head from considerable heights without injury. + +We watched the big-horn as it bounded away, until it speedily +disappeared. + +Almost immediately afterwards the mist lifted, and we saw before us a +range of mountains with a snow-capped peak, apparently of great +elevation, rising beyond them, while at their foot slept a lake of clear +water, shining like a polished mirror in the rays of the sun. + +"What! shall we have to cross all those mountains?" exclaimed Dan, "we +shall be brought to a stand-still, I fear." + +"We shall have to get through them somehow or other, but I hope that a +passage may be found up a canon, between the rocky heights, so that we +shall not be compelled to climb over their tops," answered Mr Tidey. +"The sooner, however, we get back to camp and look out for the required +pass the better. It may take us some days, and as the season is +advancing there is no time to be lost." + +We accordingly turned back, and on reaching the train found that the +mountains were as clearly visible as from where we had first seen them. +Near at hand was a rocky height, to the top of which my father and uncle +climbed with us, carrying their spy-glasses that they might take a view +of the range, and endeavour to discover some opening through which we +might hope to make our way. + +"Others have gone through yonder rocky barrier, and so may we," said my +father, sweeping the range from north to south with his telescope. +After surveying the mountain for some time, he exclaimed, "I see what +looks like a canon where the cliffs appear to rise almost +perpendicularly out of the plain. We will direct our course towards it. +We shall not reach it to-night, but we will explore it with our carts +to-morrow morning, while we leave the waggons in a safe position, so +that they may be effectually defended should any Indians venture to +attack them, though I have no apprehensions on that score." + +The plan being arranged, we returned to the train, and, verging to the +right, moved towards the gap my father had discovered. We reached one +end of the lake which we had seen in the morning, and as the sun had +already disappeared over the mountains, a halt was called, and we +encamped in our usual fashion. We chose a spot with the lake to the +south; on one side a rocky height rose precipitously out of the water, +on the other was a thick wood; we had thus two sides of the camp +strongly defended by nature, and by throwing up a breastwork round the +other two sides the camp might be made as strong as could be required. +Although an enemy might climb to the top of the rock, yet by posting a +couple of men there with rifles, it might be defended against a whole +host of foes. The wood being but a short distance off from which the +timber required could be obtained, all hands setting to work, before +dark the camp was as strongly fortified as we thought requisite. + +It was the first time for many days that we had enjoyed a feeling of +perfect security. Dio had lighted a fire a little apart from that of +the men, that its smoke might keep off the flies, which were inclined to +be troublesome. To utilise it, he had hung up one of our pots to boil. +Kathleen, being somewhat tired, was asleep in our waggon, while my +mother and Lily were seated on the ground near it. Boxer and Toby lay a +short distance off, as Lily said, looking at themselves in the lake, +into which the oxen, having taken their fill of the luscious grass +growing on the bank, had come down to drink. + +My father, accompanied by Dan and me, having made a circuit of the camp, +to see that all was right, had just joined my mother. Dio, who had been +attending to the pot, drew my father aside, to propound some knotty +point with regard to the waggon which was under his especial charge, +while Dan threw himself down by our mother, to have a game of play with +Lily, Rose and Biddy being at a little distance off, busily washing +clothes in the lake and singing at the top of their voices, the one a +negro, the other an Irish melody, the result, as may be supposed, far +from melodious, each stopping, however, every now and then to exchange +jokes with the men who happened to be passing near them. + +That evening-scene in our camp near the mountains made an impression on +me, which is as vivid at the present day as then, and I describe it more +perhaps for my own gratification than for any it may afford the readers +of my journal. + +The next morning we set off on our expedition, Martin Prentis being left +in charge of the camp. Our exploring party consisted of my father, +Uncle Denis, Mr Tidey, Dan, and I, Dio, and two of the men. My mother +begged that she might go with us, and as she would not leave the two +little girls behind, Biddy came to assist in taking care of them. We +carried one tent, with provisions and everything requisite for forming a +camp, so that we might send the empty carts back to bring on more +stores, should we find that we could not get the heavy waggons through. +Though the ground at a distance appeared to be level, we had a +considerable ascent to make before we reached the foot of the cliffs. +As we looked ahead, it seemed impossible that we should ever get through +the massive rocks piled up before us, but my father, confident that an +opening would be found, persevered, and at length we saw some way off, +what looked a mere cleft in the rock. + +"That's the mouth of the canon," he exclaimed, "though it seems so +narrow, it is wide enough for our cart-wheels and that is all we +require." + +We eagerly pressed forward and in a short time entered a gloomy defile +where the rocks towered up on either side, and in some places hung +completely over our heads, but as they had stood for centuries, we had +no fear of their tumbling down while we were passing beneath them. + +On and on we went, the rocks becoming higher and higher, and forming +precipitous cliffs, their summits many hundred feet above us. It was +evident that the mountain had been rent asunder by some mighty +earthquake without the assistance of water. + +The ground on which we travelled rose but slightly. As we continued our +course the scenery became more gloomy and barren, and, except on the +ground beneath our feet, scarcely a blade of grass or plant of any +description was to be seen growing in the clefts of the dark and sombre +rocks. The atmosphere, seldom warmed by the rays of the sun, felt +chilly in the extreme, and depressed our spirits, and had it not been +for the assurance of my father, that we should discover an outlet on the +other side, some of the party would, I think, have turned back, under +the belief that we should only arrive at last before some vast cavern, +or towering cliff, beyond which all further progress would be barred. +Even the Dominie, I saw, did not half like it, but he was too much +attached to my father to hesitate about proceeding. Our chief anxiety +was about water, as yet not a single cascade had we met with, nor the +smallest rivulet trickling down the sides of the mountains. So lofty +were the rocks, that we could nowhere see even the tops of the mountains +above us. We concluded that we were at some distance from the snowy +peak we had discovered the day before, which would probably have sent +down a stream to afford us the water we required. We stopped to rest at +noon, where the gorge opened out slightly and the ground bore a +sufficient amount of grass to enable our horses to crop a scanty meal. +As we were anxious to get into a more fertile region before nightfall, +we did not remain longer than was necessary. The shades of evening came +on far sooner than would have been the case in the plain. The cliffs +rose on every hand, towering as high, or even higher, than at the +entrance of the gorge. Unwilling to encamp in a place where we could +get neither fire nor water, Mr Tidey and I volunteered to push on +ahead, hoping that we might find a pleasanter spot for camping than in +the narrow defile, even though we might not succeed in altogether +emerging from the pass. We hurried on as long as a ray of light +penetrated into the gorge, but at length it became so dark that we could +scarcely see a yard before us. Were we to proceed further we might +knock our heads against a rock or fall into some yawning chasm. + +"Stop, Mike!" said my companion, "better to suffer present evil, than to +rush into greater we know not of. We must return to our friends, if we +don't break our heads in the meantime, and advise them forthwith to come +to a halt." + +So pitchy was the darkness, that we could not see the rocks on either +hand, and we were afraid, should we stumble or turn round by any chance, +that we might be going away from, instead of nearing our friends. In +vain we looked up to catch sight of a star by which we might have guided +ourselves, but not a single one could we see. + +"It won't do to halt here," observed the Dominie; "depend upon it, the +captain has come to a stand-still long ago." + +Every now and then we stopped and shouted as we groped our way forward, +but no answer came, and at last I began to picture to myself all sorts +of accidents which might have happened to my family. Perhaps their +footsteps had been dogged by the Indians, or a rock had fallen and +crushed them, or the horses, suffering from want of water, had sunk down +exhausted. + +When I mentioned my apprehensions to Mr Tidey, he laughed at me, and +tried to dispel them. "The thing is, Mike, we came over the road in +daylight, and we are now going back in the dark, and whereas we were +walking four miles an hour, we are now progressing at a quarter that +speed." + +Still, I was not convinced, and dreaded that at any instant we might +come upon the dead bodies of our friends. + +Again and again I shouted out. How my heart bounded when I at length +heard my father's cheery voice replying to our hail. Turning an angle +of the pass I saw the light of a fire, by the side of which I could +distinguish the carts, the white tent, and the figures of our friends. +Guided by the blaze, we soon reached the little encampment. My father +and Uncle Denis were as glad to get us back as we were to return, though +we had no satisfactory intelligence to communicate. Dio had found some +bushes, from which the fuel for our fire had been procured and what was +of of equal consequence, a small pool of water, to which our thirsty +cattle had been led to drink. + +"Had we pushed on we should have missed it, so that we must not grumble +at being detained in the pass," observed my father. + +"Provided no storm comes on until we are clear of it," remarked Uncle +Denis; "however, we will not anticipate evils." + +So soundly did I sleep, after the fatigues of the evening, that Uncle +Denis had to give me a pretty rough shake, and then looking up, I saw +that it was daylight overhead, though it was still almost dark in the +depths of the pass. + +We lost no time, as soon as breakfast was over, in moving on, hoping +that before long we should emerge into the open country. For hours we +trudged on, ascending but slightly, and the horses had no difficulty in +dragging up the carts, when suddenly the bright glare of daylight +appeared before us and we found ourselves looking down on a broad valley +bathed in sunlight, but with another range of mountains beyond. The +sides sloped gradually towards a sparkling stream which flowed at the +bottom, clothed with rich vegetation. Was this valley to be our home, +or were we to cross the second range, into a still more fertile region? + +"This is just the sort of spot we have been looking for, and I hope my +father will stop here!" I exclaimed to Mr Tidey, with whom I was +walking. + +"Very good possibly, but where are we to find a market for our produce? +Unless there is a pass through the second range, no emigrant trains are +likely to come this way, and I do not think your father or any other +sensible man would wish to exclude himself from the rest of the world, +though undoubtedly we might manage to exist if big-horns, and deer, and +buffalo are to be found in the neighbourhood." + +When my father came up, he stopped and surveyed the valley. + +"Its beauty consists in its contrast to the dark gorge we have passed +through," he remarked; "see those black rocks cropping up in all +directions through the grass: the soil is of but little depth, and we +could nowhere find an acre of arable land." + +Uncle Denis agreed with him, but observed that it would be as well to +camp in the valley, for the sake of giving the horses a good feed, while +we searched a passage either through or over the next range. + +I should occupy too much space, were I minutely to describe the next few +days' journey, the steeps we climbed up, the descents we made, now +keeping along the edge of a roaring torrent, now ascending by the brink +of precipices, over which there appeared a great risk of the carts and +horses falling to the bottom. + +Still we worked our onward way, my father being confident that we should +encounter no insuperable obstacles. We had climbed to a height early in +the day, from which, through his glass, he had obtained a view over the +region we had to pass. Though wild and rugged in the extreme, it was of +no great elevation. + +"If we cannot get through in one direction, we may in another," he +remarked. + +Twice we had to return for some distance the way we had come, but +perseverance conquered all difficulties, and at length we gained a +ridge, far away beyond which we saw stretching a magnificent country, a +stream flowing down from the mountains, a wide extent of prairie, a +shining lake, and an extensive forest, with trees of giant growth. We +had only to descend to take possession of any spot on which we might fix +for our future residence. The stream and lake would afford us fish, +herds of deer browsed on the rich grass, and far away we caught sight of +some buffaloes, while numerous "big-horns" were seen bounding amid the +crags on either side. + +Another day was spent before we were fairly in the valley, but my father +and Uncle Denis agreed that we were well repaid for the toil we had gone +through. They selected a spot for our habitation on the side of a hill, +sloping gradually up from the stream, where we might be out of the reach +of its swelling waters and yet make use of it for irrigating the land. +We at once pitched my mother's tent, and set to work to cut down timber +for a log hut for ourselves. As soon as this was done, I and two of the +men were despatched by my father to fetch more of our stores, or to +bring on the waggons, should we find a more practicable road than the +one by which we had come. I felt duly proud of the important charge +committed to me, and set off in high spirits. + +By keeping more to the left than we had done, I was fortunate enough to +discover a road over which I felt sure that the waggons could make their +way, and once more, after three days' journey, we entered the valley +which had at first so enchanted me. It now wore a very different aspect +to my eyes. The sky was cloudy, and we had come from so far superior a +region that I was very thankful we had not selected it for our location. +As we passed through the gorge, the light of the sun being shut out +from us, my spirits sank, and I began to dread lest our camp might have +been attacked, and we should find it in the same condition as that from +which we had rescued Lily. I forgot how confident my father was that it +would be safe, and that I ought not to be doubtful of his judgment. + +Emerging at last from the pass, I caught sight of the white tilts of the +waggons, arranged in perfect order. A cheer rose as we approached, and +Martin hurried out to greet us, and to report "all well." + +The journey across the mountain with the heavy waggons, was a far more +difficult undertaking than with the carts, but by caution, perseverance, +and judgment, we succeeded in getting through without any accident, and +I was rewarded on my arrival by the approbation of my father. + +For some time after this, we were busily engaged in putting up a house +and outbuildings, with cottages for the men, and in fencing in land for +a garden, and fields, so that during that period we met with no +adventures worth narrating. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +OUR NEW HOME--FORTIFICATIONS--SNAKE-FENCING--EDUCATION OF MY SISTER AND +LILY--DIO MEANS TO CATCH A BEAR--DEPREDATIONS ON OUR POULTRY-YARD-- +CAPTURE OF DAME BRUIN--A CONTRIBUTION TO UNCLE DENIS'S MENAGERIE-- +TRAINING THE CUBS--HUNTING EXPEDITIONS--A COLONY OF BEAVERS--HOW THE +DAMS ARE BUILT--DIO'S MAGIC STICKS--WE TURN TRAPPERS--FIGHT WITH A +GRIZZLY--VISIT OF A WOLVERINE TO OUR HUT--TRAPS SET--OUR SUCCESS--LEFT +IN CHARGE--AN INDIAN TAKES ME BY SURPRISE--KLUKO'S WARNING TO THE +PALE-FACES--COMMENCE OUR RETURN JOURNEY. + +The grand point had to be settled, the name we should give to our new +home in the wilderness. Kathleen and Lily begged that it might be +called "Smiling Valley Farm," and all voices were unanimous in deciding +as they wished. A dwelling-house was constructed of rough logs, like an +ordinary log hut but larger, the trunks being placed above each other +horizontally, with a groove in the lower to receive the upper one and +the ends fitting into each other, while the interstices were plastered +with clay and the interior lined with shingles or planks split by wedges +and afterwards shaped and planed down smooth. A broad veranda ran round +it, which afforded shade during the summer, and prevented the snow from +beating into the windows in winter. Surrounding it was a strong +palisade which it was considered necessary to put up, in case we should +be attacked by the Indians, who, although at present we understood were +peaceably disposed, might at any time take it into their heads to +attempt our destruction. Still my father hoped, by treating the tribes +in the neighbourhood fairly and kindly, to win their friendship. +Outside the palisade we dug a deep ditch which served both to drain the +house and strengthen the fortifications. Over it was a drawbridge, +which was raised by tackles and so constructed as greatly to strengthen +the gate. We calculated, should it ever become necessary, that we +should be able to maintain a lengthened siege in our stronghold, though +my father, old soldier as he was, said he earnestly hoped that we should +never be compelled to resort to our means of defence. "It is wise +however to be prepared, and the redskins, seeing that we are ready for +them, will not, I trust, venture to molest us," he added. + +Up to the present time, indeed, no Indians had come near the farm, and +the scattered families we occasionally met in our more distant hunting +expeditions seemed unaware of its existence. The huts of the men, also +surrounded by stockades, were so placed on either side of the +dwelling-house that they could sweep the front by a cross-fire should an +enemy ever attempt to escalade our walls. + +As we brought the ground under cultivation, we surrounded the garden and +fields with snake fences, which are made in a rough fashion, the rails +being placed one upon another in a zigzag form, and secured at the +angles by stakes driven into the ground. They were formed by splitting +trees into four or five portions, according to their girth, an operation +carried on by means of wedges driven in with sledge-hammers. + +When once the rails were split, the fence was very quickly put up. As +in a short time creepers grew over them, they had a very picturesque +appearance. + +When we were fairly settled, Mr Tidey resumed his duties as our Tutor. + +A large portion of our time, however, was still passed in outdoor +occupations. We had indeed to make frequent hunting excursions to +supply ourselves with meat until our stock of cattle, pigs, and poultry, +had increased sufficiently to allow us to kill any of them for food. + +The winter, which rapidly came on, though severe, was shorter than in +more northern latitudes, but by that time our house was in a +sufficiently forward condition to resist the cold, and our stoves were +kept well supplied with logs. I must pass over the events of that +period. + +Our evenings, and a portion of every day, when the Dominie was at home, +were spent in receiving instruction from him; my sister and Lily being +also his pupils. He at all events, stored their minds with useful +knowledge, although unable to instruct them in those feminine +accomplishments which young ladies in eastern cities consider of so much +importance. A piano they had never seen, but they knew what it was like +from pictures. They, however, had guitars, which Uncle Denis purchased +from some Mexicans, and they became very fair musicians, being able to +accompany their voices on the instruments with taste and skill. My +father taught them drawing, albeit their lessons were few and far +between; but they showed an aptitude for the art, and made good use of +their pencils. They were, notwithstanding this, accomplished in all +household matters, while they diligently plied their needles and made +puddings and cakes of unsurpassed excellence. + +I have mentioned this merely to show that young ladies in the wilderness +may, if they have the will, obtain as fair an amount of useful knowledge +and elegant accomplishments as those who are generally supposed to be +their sole possessors. I am, however, describing them as they were in +subsequent years. At present they were but young girls, though +improving daily in mind and person. + +Uncle Denis had long wished to carry out his cherished plan of forming a +menagerie by taming the wild animals of the country, which he averred he +could do by proper treatment. + +The difficulty, however, was to take them alive when young enough to +benefit by his proposed training. + +"I should like to have a fine young grizzly, though I suspect he would +prove rather an obstinate pupil," remarked Uncle Denis in Dio's hearing. + +Some time after this Dio came to me and said, "Me tinkee me get b'ar +'fore long for Massa Denis an' gib him pleasant surprise." + +On inquiring how he expected to do this, he told me that he had +discovered a nest of honey-bees in a wood a short distance from the +house, and that twice on returning home late in the evening he had seen +a shaggy beast, which he was sure was a bear, going in that direction, +but that having no bullets in his pouch at the time, he did not wish to +become better acquainted with it. After each occasion he had found that +the nest had been robbed of a portion of its contents, and that from its +position the plunderer had been unable to carry off the remainder. He +was sure that the bear was the thief, and he had formed a plan for +catching it; he would then, he said, bring Uncle Denis to the spot, and +exhibit his captive. I asked him how he intended to proceed. + +"Come an' see, Massa Mike. I will show you," he replied. + +We accordingly went together into the wood, when he showed me a large +tree, the lower part of the trunk being hollow from age. At the higher +part of the cavity, which had an opening outside, was the bees' nest; up +this it was very evident that the bear had put his paw, but, unable to +reach higher, had to content himself with the lower portion of the comb, +which the industrious inhabitants had set to work immediately afterwards +to restore. + +"But, Dio," I observed, "though the bear may possibly go into the hollow +to obtain more honey, how are you to make him stay there. As soon as he +hears your footstep he will be off, unless he is in fighting humour, in +which case we shall be compelled to shoot him to prevent him injuring +us." + +"Wait 'bit, massa, you see some day," answered Dio. + +Whether the bear was fond of honey, we had soon evidence that he or some +other animal was of our pigs and poultry. One night a tremendous +cackling was heard in the poultry-yard. The next morning it was +discovered that a fat turkey, captured by Uncle Denis, and a couple of +ducks, were carried off, and during the next night we were aroused by +several piercing squeaks, and afterwards found that one of our porkers +had disappeared. + +We watched for several following nights, but if Master Bruin had been +the depredator, he was too wary to repeat his visits. As he would not +come to us to be shot, we searched for him in all directions among the +neighbouring rocks, where, in some hitherto undiscovered cave, it was +thought probable he had his abode. No traces of him, however, could we +discover. Dio during this time was not idle. I inquired whether the +bear had again robbed the bees. + +"No, he not come back yet, but he soon come, an' den you see," he +answered, looking very mysterious. + +At length, one evening, I met him running towards the house in a state +of great excitement. + +"Wha'r Massa Denis?" he asked; "me tinkee me got b'ar for him now. +Wha'r is he?" + +For a wonder, he was in the house, as was Dan; so I called them both. + +"We must get some cords to bind our prisoner, or otherwise he may not be +quite ready to accompany us," said my uncle. + +Having procured some pieces of strong rope, we set off. We overtook +Dio, and asked him how he knew that the bear had got into the hollow +trunk. He then described his plan of proceeding. He had filled the +lower part of the cavity with dry leaves, branches, and twigs, and had +laid a train so that he could fire it in an instant. He had also +blocked up a portion of the entrance, and had placed some stout sticks, +sharply pointed, directed inwards, so that although the bear could +squeeze through one way, he would find it a difficult task to back out +again. + +As we approached the tree described by Dio, he advised us to get our +rifles ready, and to have our lashings prepared to bind Bruin's legs +when he tried to come out, as he probably would, tail first. Still the +animal did not make his appearance. + +"Perhaps he is afraid of descending for fear of burning himself, as you +have lighted a fire at the bottom of the hollow, and he would have to go +through it," observed Uncle Denis. + +Dio asserted that it was because the dogs kept up a barking, and he +advised that we should retire to a short distance, while he remained +near to listen when the bear was descending. We kept the dogs back and +held our guns in readiness, should Bruin come forth, indignant at having +his hide singed, and make a rush at us. + +We waited several minutes, but with the exception of some low growls, +which grew fainter and fainter, no sounds reached our ears. Dio every +now and then popped his woolly pate out from behind the tree where he +was hiding himself, showing his white teeth, evidently wondering what +was going to happen. Presently a loud crashing noise was heard, and the +sticks which Dio had placed at the entrance of the hollow giving way, +out fell a huge bear headlong to the ground. Dio rushed forward. + +"Come here, Massa Denis; come here, make fast de bear!" he shouted. +Then he looked at the animal as Uncle Denis advanced, adding, "Me tink +him dead." + +The two dogs also, which now ran forward, seemed to be very much of the +same opinion, for without hesitation they ran up and placed their paws +on the monster, sniffing fearlessly round him. The smoke from Dio's +fire had effectually suffocated him. + +"I am afraid that he will not become an inhabitant of my menagerie," +said Uncle Denis, laughing, "and I doubt, if we had caught him alive, +that he would have proved amenable to my instruction." + +Lest the bear should recover at an inconvenient moment, we put a shot +through his head, and then proceeded to cut him up, that we might carry +home the flesh, which was likely to prove very acceptable at the farm. + +It was one of the largest of the she-bears of the brown species I ever +met with, and, though not so fierce as the grizzly, would have proved a +formidable antagonist had it been encountered when hard pressed by +hunger. + +The smoke which had killed the bear had also suffocated the bees, and +Dan and I, climbing up, secured the remainder of the comb which Bruin +had left. + +"We shall probably find Dame Bruin's cubs somewhere or other, if we +follow up her trail," observed Uncle Denis, as we were employed in +cutting up the bear. "Though she would have proved a difficult subject +to tame, we may have more hope of succeeding with them." As soon as the +operation was performed, and we had hung up the meat to the bough of a +tree--a necessary precaution in that region--we set off to look for the +cubs. The animal, not having the instinct of the red man, had left a +clearly marked trail as she made her way through the forest. Guided by +the marks of the grass trampled down, boughs bent aside, and twigs +broken off, we had no difficulty in following it up, though it continued +for a far greater distance than we had expected. It led us towards a +rocky spur of the mountain, mostly covered with trees and thick +brushwood, so that we could see but a short distance ahead. + +"Take care, massa, p'r'aps he b'ar dare lookin' after de pickaninnies, +so, if he come out, better be ready to shoot him," observed Dio. + +"We'll soon make him show himself," answered Uncle Denis, and he called +to our dogs, who had obediently followed at our heels, to range ahead. +Off they started, delighted with the duty entrusted to them. After +ranging backwards and forwards, occasionally showing themselves amid the +brushwood, their loud barks and yelps convinced us that they had found +either the young bears or some other animal. We made our way towards +the spot from whence the sounds proceeded, with our guns ready should we +discover any formidable antagonist. As we got up we saw the shaggy +tails of our dogs wagging vehemently outside a cavern, within which it +did not seem possible that any large animal could be hidden. Now Boxer +would rush further in, now Toby, while a whimpering sound, mingled with +an occasional infantine growl, showed us that the cave was alone +occupied by the cubs of which we were in search. Fearing that the +animals would be injured, we called off the dogs, when their bloody +mouths and the brown hair sticking to their jaws, proved that they had +had a battle with the occupants of the cave. The difficulty was now to +get the creatures out without further injuring them. Though I might +easily have crawled in, yet it would be at the risk of being bitten by +the young bears, who would, should I do so, naturally mistake me for one +of the dogs about to renew the fight. + +"Stay, massa," said Dio at length; "I do it!" Without delay he cut down +a young sapling, which he quickly stripped of its branches. He had +still tied round his waist a piece of the rope we had brought to secure +the bear. With this we formed a noose at the end of the pole. "Now I +get him out," he observed creeping into the mouth of the cavern and +pushing the pole before him. After moving it about for a few seconds, +he shouted-- + +"Pull 'way, massa, got one of dem!" and, he quickly backing out, we +hauled away on the rope. The resistance we found told us of Dio's +success, and presently we hauled out a good-sized cub, but it was +bleeding from its mouth and shoulders, an evidence of the severe way in +which the dogs had worried it. Though it struggled and tried to bite, +it was so much hurt, that Uncle Denis, believing that it would not live, +at once put it out of its misery. + +"Dere is 'nodder inside," observed Dio, listening at the mouth of the +cave; "git him next." + +Once more he shoved in the pole. Some time elapsed before he again +shouted out to us to haul away, when we pulled forth by the front paws +another cub, which, although it had some blood-stains about it, seemed +to be unharmed. The smaller one did not struggle so violently as his +companion had done. + +"Just the creature I wanted," exclaimed Uncle Denis, delighted. "I must +muzzle Master Bruin at present, to prevent him from biting our +favourites, but he'll soon become as gentle as a lamb." + +The little bear made violent efforts to retaliate, but a piece of rope +put round his nose, prevented him from opening his mouth, while we +fastened his fore-legs together; we then, taking two sticks, placed them +under his body and Uncle Denis and I carried him along, while Dio +brought the little dead bear on his back. The bear's flesh we carried +home was very acceptable, but our hunting expeditions had of late not +been so successful as before, many of the animals having migrated +southwards to escape the approaching winter. + +At first Master Bruin was very snappish, but as he grew hungry, he was +glad to take a sup of goat's milk, which Uncle Denis gave him from a +bottle, and in a short time he gratefully received food from the hands +of anyone of us. He showed from the first great fondness for honey, to +which his mamma had probably accustomed him, or he may have inherited +the taste from her. Uncle Denis taking him in hand, taught him all +sorts of tricks, and before long he became a most tractable and +well-behaved bear. + +A few days after we had captured "Bruno," Dan and I, with Uncle Denis, +accompanied by Dio, set off on a hunting expedition down the valley, +towards a broad river, which after feeding a large lake found its way +into the Missouri. It was itself fed by other streams which came down +from the mountain ranges, but varied greatly, according to the season of +the year. Sometimes they were mere rivulets; at others, they were +swelled by the melting snows. In case of becoming separated, we always +fixed on some well-marked spot, where we could assemble at an hour +agreed on, or at the end of the day's sport, either to camp or return +home. Dan and I always kept together. On this occasion we had lost +sight of Uncle Denis and Dio, though we heard their shots in the +distance. + +We had found no deer, though we had killed some wild fowl on the banks +of the stream, when we heard, as we supposed, the report of our uncle's +gun, some way up it. We set off to try and rejoin him; twice again we +heard a shot in the same direction, but apparently further off. Still +we persevered, making our way as well as we could through the thick +wood. + +Near the stream, willow, lime, and other water-loving trees grew to a +large size, with a fringe of thick reeds through which it was difficult +to penetrate. + +After going some distance, we struck a trail, which we guessed was our +uncle's, certainly not that of an Indian, who would have been careful +where he trod, so as not to have crushed the grass, or broken off leaves +and twigs in his way. The trail, as we advanced, became more and more +clear, and we expected every moment to catch sight of our uncle. Though +we had not heard a shot for some time, we suddenly came upon him, when +he put up his hand as a signal to us not to speak, and crept forward +through the reeds. We followed him, until he stopped behind a tree, and +leaning forward looked up the stream, which flowed over a rocky bed +close to us, while a short distance off a dam, which seemed to have been +constructed by human hands--so considerable was its extent--was thrown +across from side to side, the water beyond it being perfectly smooth. +Out of it rose a number of round-topped artificial structures, some two +feet or more above the surface, while a large community of animals, +which we knew at once were beavers, were busily moving about, some +employed in either repairing or increasing their dam, others in dragging +pieces of willow across their lake, either to form new abodes, to mend +any fractures in the old ones, or to serve as food, the fresh bark being +their chief article of diet. Some again were on shore gnawing away at +young trees with their sharp teeth, and two fell directly over the +stream while we were watching them. Instantly the whole community +hurried forward to assist in cutting off the branches and reducing the +log to a more manageable size. + +Unwilling to disturb them, we remained perfectly silent. + +Of course we might have shot several; but had we done so, it would have +been difficult afterwards to obtain them, and possibly the community +might have moved off to some other locality. Having, therefore, +satisfied our curiosity, we retired, and made our way back to the spot +where we intended to camp, and where we hoped Dio would join us. + +It is seldom that beavers can be seen at work in the day-time, as they +usually perform their various tasks during the hours of darkness. I may +as well here describe the beaver. It is about three and a half feet +long, including the tail, which is flat, covered with scales, and shaped +like a paddle, being about a foot in length. Its back is covered with +long thin hair of a light chestnut colour, beneath which lies a fine +wool of soft greyish brown. The head is rather round than pointed, the +jaws of extraordinary strength, its teeth being also of great power and +extreme sharpness, to enable it to gnaw through wood as well as to bite +off the bark from the trees on which it chiefly lives. The object of +the animals in building the wonderful dams they often construct, is that +they may form ponds in which a sufficient depth of water can be +maintained at all seasons of the year. Instinct rather than reason +prompts them to do this; still, on examining the dams, it is difficult +to suppose that they have been formed by animals. They are composed of +young trees, or of branches cut into lengths, each of about three feet, +and laid horizontally, one upon the other. While one party brings the +log, another follows with mud and stones, which they place upon it to +keep it from rising. At the bottom they are actually twelve feet thick, +though as they rise towards the top they diminish to the width of two +feet. When it is understood that some of these dams are between two and +three hundred yards long, it may be supposed what an enormous number of +small logs are required to make one. + +What appears still more extraordinary is that when the stream runs +slowly, the dam is built directly across it, but should the current be +strong it is curved, with the convex side pointing up the stream, so +that it should the better withstand the force of the water. I +frequently found these dams with small trees growing out of them, +showing that they must have existed a number of years. In the lake thus +formed by the dam the beavers build their houses, or lodges, as they are +called by trappers. They are constructed in the same way as the dams, +with small logs kept together by clay and lined with moss, the roof +being plastered thickly with mud, which in time becomes so perfectly +hard, that it is difficult to break through it. It is a task which the +cunning wolverine--who is fond of beaver meat--can never accomplish, and +he prefers to pounce down on any of the animals which incautiously +venture forth, when he is in the neighbourhood. + +These "lodges" outside measure as much as seven or eight feet in height, +and they are often from sixteen to twenty in circumference, but the +walls are so thick that the interior does not exceed three feet in +height and from six to eight in circumference. The entrance, which is +under water, is at such a depth that they cannot be frozen in. + +It is a common idea among trappers, that the beaver uses his tail for a +trowel to flatten down the mud, but this is denied by more observing +naturalists, who assert that the tail is merely employed for swimming, +although when he is at work with his paws, he may flap it about, but not +for any other object. + +One of the most extraordinary characteristics of the beaver is, that it +secretes from certain glands a peculiar odoriferous substance called +"castoreum," or "bark-stone" by the trappers. So strangely are the +beavers attracted by this substance, that sniffing it up with their +nostrils, they will hurry towards it to enjoy the scent. It is +consequently the bait used by trappers. The trap is placed five or six +inches below the water, and just above it is stuck a stick dipped in +bark-stone. The unwary beaver eagerly swims up to it and is caught by +the treacherous trap below. Old beavers are, however, generally too +cunning; and it is said that on discovering a trap they will carry mud +and stones, and drop them over it until it is completely buried. Such +was the account which Uncle Denis gave us as we sat round our camp-fire +that evening. Dio had listened attentively; he merely observed-- + +"Dis niggar know all 'bout it." + +The next morning he invited us to accompany him to the beaver pond, +saying, "You shall see what you shall see." Uncle Denis's curiosity had +been excited by Dio's mysterious remark, and he accompanied us. Dio +produced a bundle of small twigs, which he carried under his arm as we +went along. Approaching the pond he begged that we would remain +concealed while he went forward. After a little time he summoned us and +told us to sit down on the bank of the stream. I had always heard that +beavers were the most timid of creatures, and that they would disappear +on the approach of human beings, but to our surprise, immediately after +Dio had begun to throw in some of his magic twigs, a shoal of beavers +popped up from their lodges and rapidly approached, utterly regardless +of our presence. So close did they come without perceiving us, that we +might have knocked several on the head, but it would probably have been +the signal for the disappearance of the whole of them. They appeared to +be animated with but one thought, that of carrying off the twigs dipped +in their beloved "bark-stone." + +A few old fellows swam off to a distance and began to devour the twigs, +which were evidently much to their taste. Beaver-skins were at that +time of great value. + +"We have here a mine of wealth, if we work it properly," observed Uncle +Denis; "probably no trappers have as yet discovered this beaver-dam, and +we must take care not to let anyone else know of it until we have +captured the inhabitants. I brought a dozen iron traps among my stores, +though I have as yet been too busy to use them. We will go home +to-morrow morning, look them out, and return with them at once. +Remember that we must keep our discovery a secret. We shall I hope give +a pleasant surprise to your father." + +The plan proposed by Uncle Denis was adopted. Laden with the traps and +such stores as we required for a week's residence in the wilderness, we +started, accompanied by Mr Tidey. On reaching the spot we built a +substantial hut, in which we could store our provisions, and by closing +the entrance, we expected to be able to preserve our beaver skins from +the attacks of wolverines during our absence from camp. We lost no time +in setting the traps under the water in the runs made by the beavers +when passing backwards and forwards to the woods from whence they +obtained the bark on which they fed. We observed that they had cut down +numbers of young trees, for a considerable distance along the banks of +the stream above their town. This, Uncle Denis surmised they had done +that they might, after they had divided them into proper lengths, allow +them to float down to the spot where they were required. By hiding +ourselves during a moonlight night we had an opportunity of seeing them +engaged in their labours. It was truly wonderful to observe the rapid +way in which the industrious creatures nibbled through a tree and +reduced it to the dimensions they required. + +On examining our traps for the first time, we found each had caught a +beaver, some by the legs, others by their noses. The latter were +drowned, as even a beaver cannot remain beyond a certain time under +water, but I must own I felt compunction when I witnessed the struggles +of the other poor creatures to free themselves, though they were put out +of their pain as soon as possible by a blow on the head. Resetting the +traps, we returned to camp to take off the skins and dress them. We +dined on the meat, which we agreed resembled flabby pork. Mr Tidey, +however, undertook to provide better fare the next day. I accompanied +him while the rest of the party went back to look after the traps. We +had killed a deer, and had loaded ourselves with as much venison as we +could carry, intending to return for the remainder, when Mr Tidey fired +at a turkey, for the sake of having a variety for our dinner. At that +instant a huge grizzly she-bear rose up from behind a thicket, and +before he could reload, charged right at him. I was too far off to fire +with any certainty of hitting the animal. Fortunately, close to Mr +Tidey was a large clump of rose bushes, behind which he immediately +sprang, when the bear, missing him, rose up on her hind-legs, and, +looking about, came towards me. I knelt to receive her, knowing that, +were I to run, I should be overtaken and destroyed. She was within +thirty yards when Mr Tidey, having reloaded, fired and hit her on the +back. She stopped and began to turn round and round, snapping at her +side and tearing at the wound with her teeth and claws. Expecting to +gain an easy victory I advanced a few paces and fired, but so rapid were +her movements, that my bullet missed. + +"Quick, quick! reload, Mike!" cried Mr Tidey, who saw what had +happened. + +The warning did not come too soon, for at that instant the bear rose +again on her hind-legs, with a furious growl, preparatory to springing +on me. Mr Tidey was still too far off to fire with any certainty of +mortally wounding the bear, and, should his bullet miss her, it might +hit me. My life depended, therefore, on my next shot; should I miss, +one blow from her tremendous paw would bring me to the ground, and the +next instant I should be torn to pieces. I loaded as rapidly as I +could, while I kept my eye on my antagonist. Scarcely had I time to ram +down the ball when she was close up to me. I dared not look to +ascertain what help Mr Tidey was likely to afford me. As the bear +approached I lifted up my rifle to my shoulder and fired. The bear gave +a tremendous growl, but still advanced. With a desperate bound I sprang +on one side, when over she rolled, and lay struggling on the ground. +She might be up again, however, at any moment, so I ran off to a +distance to reload, catching sight, as I did so, of Mr Tidey, who, +coming up, fired at the bear's head, and, greatly to my relief, her +struggles ceased. Having thrown some sticks and stones at the creature +to ascertain that it was really dead, we approached, and found that she +measured no less than seven and a half feet in length, with claws four +and a half inches long. I shuddered as I thought of the dreadful wounds +she might have inflicted with them. We skinned her, and as we were +already heavily loaded, we hung up the hide and part of the flesh to the +branches of a neighbouring tree, carrying only a little of the meat for +our supper. We had got close to our camp, when Mr Tidey exclaimed-- + +"Holloa! our hut has been broken into; some rascally wolverine has paid +us a visit." + +I ran forward, and just as I got up to the hut, out darted the thief, +almost knocking me over; before I could recover myself it had made its +way round to the back of the hut. I sprang to one side, hoping to get a +shot at him, but he had disappeared. We hurried in, when we found our +beaver-skins scattered about, most of them being so gnawed as to be +utterly valueless. + +"This will be an annoyance to your uncle; but we may congratulate +ourselves on having secured a fine bear and deer-skin, which will make +some amends for our loss," he observed. + +We had just made up our fire, and stuck the meat on spits to roast +before it, when Uncle Denis and his companion arrived, with a dozen more +beaver-skins. + +As soon as the meat was cooked, we sat down and made a hearty meal, +during which we told Uncle Denis of our loss. + +"We must take care that the cunning rogue does not play us such a trick +again," he observed; "should it find out your venison and hear's meat, +it will leave us but a small share by the morning." + +"Then we shall be wise to bring both into the camp to-night," said the +Dominie; "if anyone will accompany me, I will go and get them." + +Dan and I at once offered to go, and Dio begged that he might accompany +us. We were just in time to catch sight of a wolverine climbing up the +tree to which we had secured the bear-skin. Mr Tidey fired, but the +animal leaped off a bough from a considerable height, and scampered +away, as far as we could see, unwounded. + +While Dio and Dan were packing up the meat Mr Tidey and I hastened on +to where we had left the venison. + +On this occasion the wolverine had been too quick for us. He must have +gone direct to the spot, for we saw him busily engaged in devouring our +meat. On hearing us approach he decamped, carrying off a joint in his +jaws, so that scarcely one load remained. We secured this, and then +rejoined the black and my brother; and the former carrying the bear-skin +in addition to a huge ham, we returned to the camp. Uncle Denis had +been busily employed in forming a trap in which he hoped to catch the +depredator. He finished it off by the light of the fire. It consisted +of two heavy beams with holes in them, and so placed that the upper +would fall down on the bait being touched, and kill the animal. That +the wolverine, should he fail to be caught by the trap, might not +revenge himself by destroying our skins or carrying off our meat, we +constructed a strong framework in the top of our hut, in which we placed +everything of value, and, to make it additionally secure, we stuck in +some thick stakes round the entrance, intertwining them with branches. + +"The brute will be clever enough if he breaks through that," observed +Uncle Denis, as he surveyed our work the following morning before we set +out. + +We were as successful as on the previous day, and in the evening we +returned heavily laden with our spoils. + +"Hurrah!" exclaimed Uncle Denis, as he ran forward on seeing the body of +an animal sticking out of his well-contrived trap; caught by the head +and claws as the robber had seized on the bait. + +It was the wolverine which had at length been outwitted: though nearly +strangled, it required several heavy blows before it was killed +outright. The creature was about the size of a small wolf, of a +brownish-black colour, the paws being perfectly black, contrasting with +the extreme whiteness of the claws, which were of great size, resembling +those of a bear; indeed the animal was not unlike a young bear. We +dragged it away from our camp and flayed it, that we might preserve the +skin to carry home. Our success had been greater than we expected, and +as we could not carry all our skins, Mr Tidey and Dan set off to the +farm, to bring back a couple of horses to convey them home. Uncle Denis +considering that it would be unwise to leave so much property without +protection, asked me to remain in camp, while he and Dio continued +trapping. This of course I willingly undertook to do, keeping my gun in +readiness to shoot any animal which might approach. It was about noon, +and as I was getting hungry I had placed a piece of venison to roast +before the fire, and had sat down to watch it, when I was startled by +seeing standing at no great distance from me an Indian who had +approached so silently that I had not been aware of his presence. I +rose to my feet, holding my rifle ready, should he come as a foe. But +his bow was at his back and his arrows in the quiver. He spread out his +hands to show that he held no weapons in them, and then, coming forward, +sat down opposite to me. I imitated his example, keeping my eye fixed +on him, for at any moment he might draw his tomahawk or scalping-knife +from his belt. I pointed to the meat, and made signs that he should be +welcome to some of it as soon as it was sufficiently cooked. He nodded +in return, but still did not speak, and I concluded that his ignorance +of English prevented him from addressing me. As soon as the venison was +sufficiently cooked, I handed him the larger portion with some salt and +a piece of corn bread which I had baked in the morning. He ate the food +with evident satisfaction. + +"Good, good!" he said. + +They were the first words he had spoken, and he then made signs that he +should like something to drink. We had no spirits; my father had always +refused to give the Indians "fire-water," I therefore brewed some tea, +and offered him a tin mug with plenty of sugar in it. He was evidently +disappointed at the taste, but drank it off and then held out his cup +for more. When he appeared to be satisfied, I asked him if he spoke the +language of the "pale-faces." + +He nodded. + +"Then perhaps you will say why you come to pay me a visit?" + +"I was hungry, and I knew you had meat to give," he answered. "I have +lived long with the `pale-faces' when I was a boy, and know that some +are good and kind, and others bad and cruel. I have heard of the white +chief up at the farm, and that he is just and generous to all the +red-men who go there. It is right, therefore, that he should be +preserved from harm. A short time back it came to my knowledge that the +Blackfeet, who are jealous of any of the pale-faces coming into their +country, have formed a plan to destroy the farm, and to kill all the +inhabitants. I was on my way to give them warning, when I discovered +traces of white men hunting in this neighbourhood. Following up a +recent trail, I was led to your camp. I guessed you belonged to the +farm, and would save me from the necessity of going there. I must +charge you not to tell any of the red-men you may meet with from whom +you obtained the information. I have warned you, be wise. The attack +may be immediate, or it may not be made for some moons to come, but one +thing is certain, that when the Blackfeet think you are off the watch, +they will try to surprise you, and having resolved on a deed they seldom +change their minds." + +I, of course, thanked the Indian for his warning, assuring him that my +father was too wise a man not to profit by it, and that he would be glad +to reward him for the important service he had rendered us. + +"Kluko requires no reward. Gratitude prompts him to try and save the +lives of his pale-faced friends," answered the Indian. + +I, of course, do not give the exact expressions he used; indeed I had +some difficulty in understanding his language. I begged him to remain +until the return of my uncle and his companion. This, after some +pressing, he consented to do, and to show his confidence in me, having +rolled his blanket around him, he lay down before the fire, and was soon +fast asleep. + +Knowing that he would be very glad of more food on awaking, I spitted a +double supply of venison and bear's flesh. Sooner than I had expected, +Uncle Denis and Dan made their appearance. + +As they approached the camp Kluko started to his feet, even in his sleep +hearing their footsteps. They were much astonished on seeing him, but +still more so on learning the object of his visit. + +My uncle tried to recollect whether he had ever seen Kluko before, but +the Indian asserted that they had never met. He remained with us until +the following morning; then, charging us earnestly not to forget his +warning, took his departure. + +Early in the day the Dominie and two of the men arrived with the horses, +which we at once loaded and set off as fast as possible on our return +home. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +OUR HOMESTEAD--MY SISTER AND LILY LOST--ANXIETY OF THE BLACK NURSE--WE +SET OFF TO TRY AND FIND THEM--FOLLOWING UP THE TRAIL--TRACKS FOUND--DIO +PUSHES AHEAD--ON THE SHORES OF THE LAKE--APPEARANCE OF A CANOE--WE +DETERMINE TO TAKE THE OCCUPANTS PRISONERS--THE CAPTURE--ROSE ACTING AS +GUARD--THE WHITE MAN SECURED--I RECOGNISE AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE--THE WAY +WE TREATED HIM--SEARCHING ALONG THE LAKE SHORE, WE COME UPON AN +ENCAMPMENT--OVERHEAR THE CONVERSATION--OUR PRESENCE DISCOVERED--EFFECTS +OF THE WAR-WHOOP--FLIGHT OF THE PARTY WITH DIO--THE MIDNIGHT PURSUIT--AN +UNLOOKED-FOR REINFORCEMENT--RELEASE OF THE BLACK--OUR PRISONERS--LYNCH +LAW--A VILLAINOUS PLOT REVEALED--WE ARRIVE AT SMILING VALLEY FARM. + +We were approaching the farm with our packages of skins and meats; Dio +and I had hurried on ahead, as I was anxious to inform my father of the +intelligence we had received from the Indian. The house, perched on the +side of a hill, was already in sight, and very picturesque it looked, +with the stream flowing below it, and backed by ranges of mountains +towering one beyond the other, the more distant capped by eternal snows. +Evening was approaching, but the sun still tinged the eastern slopes +and the summits of the tall trees with a ruddy glow, when we caught +sight of a person running towards us. + +"Why! dat is Rose?" exclaimed Dio; "what she want?" + +As she got near us I saw that her countenance exhibited unusual alarm +and anxiety. + +"What's the matter?" I asked. + +Panting from her exertions and the long run she had had, she was at +first unable to reply. + +"De young ladies! de young ladies! you seen dem? Dey went out long dis +path, and have not yet come back. Oh, dear! oh, dear! can anything have +happened to dem?" + +On hearing this I became alarmed, for as we had not met the girls, it +was very certain that they had taken some other path. Rose further said +that they had been absent for some hours, though they had promised to +return early in the afternoon. She confessed that she had not told my +mother or Biddy, and she was the only person in the house who knew of +their having intended to go farther than usual. + +Grizzlies, wolves, panthers, and prowling Indians instantly flashed +across my mind; still I hoped that even before this they might have +returned home by some other way. + +Dio, who was evidently far more alarmed than I felt, suddenly, without a +moment's warning of his intention, darted away through some thick +brushwood to the eastward, exclaiming, "Me find 'em! me find 'em!" + +As he disappeared in the wood, I fancied I saw him stoop and wave a +handkerchief, but the light was uncertain, and I thought I must have +been mistaken. My first impulse was to follow Dio, but on looking back, +I saw Mr Tidey coming along the path in the distance, and I reflected +that our object was far more likely to be attained by getting him to +accompany me, as, should we discover the direction taken by Kathleen and +Lily, we might follow up their trail together, and be more likely to +rescue them, if they had, a was possible, been captured by Indians. Mr +Tidey was naturally very much alarmed at the tidings I gave him. + +"We will set off at once and send Rose back to let our friends know the +way we have gone," he observed, as we hurried towards the spot where the +black woman was standing. On nearing the place, however, we found that +she had gone after Dio, and we accordingly ran on in the same direction. +It was some time before we overtook her, and we then in vain +endeavoured to persuade her to go back. + +"No!" she exclaimed. It was her fault, as she should have accompanied +them, and return home without them she would not. + +As valuable time would be lost in persuading her to do what we wished, +we allowed her to accompany us. We soon had to regret this, as we were +frequently compelled to assist her, but we had now gone so far that it +would have been cruel to leave her behind. We shouted as we went on, to +Dio, but his voice did not reply. That we were on his trail was +certain, for we could see the twigs, which he or some one else had +broken off, but whether the girls had gone in the same direction, we +were doubtful. At length we came to a spot where we discovered the +marks of several feet. Mr Tidey stopped, and, stooping down, examined +them minutely. + +"The marks are those of moccasins!" he exclaimed. "Indians must have +been here, and if so, it is too probable that the dear girls may have +fallen into their hands. Even the worst savages cannot intend to harm +them, but may hope to obtain a ransom, or perhaps when we set off to try +and recover them, they may expect to cut us off in detail, or to attack +the farm when most of the defenders are away, with a better chance of +success. We must be cautious, therefore, as we proceed, but still I +hope we can defeat their object." + +"Though Indians may have been here, we have no proof that they have +taken Kathleen and Lily prisoners," I observed. + +We had not gone far, perhaps ten paces, after I made this remark, when +Rose, darting towards a bush, picked up from beneath it a small piece of +ribbon, which she at once pronounced to be part of the tie of Lily's +large straw hat. This settled the question, though how she managed to +tear off the string so as to leave it as an indication of the direction +they had taken, it was difficult to say. Was it done on purpose, or had +it been torn off in a struggle she might have made to escape. One thing +was certain. We must continue the pursuit. We hoped every instant to +overtake the black, but we were now afraid of shouting, lest the Indians +should hear us, and be warned of our approach. On and on we went. The +sun had set, and darkness shrouded the lower part of the forest. In a +few minutes the moon, still almost at the full, rose and enabled us to +see our way as well as in daylight, accustomed as we were to be out at +night; at the same time it was difficult to distinguish the trail which +had hitherto guided us. We had been going for some time in the +direction of the lake, the western edge of which extended along the base +of the mountains. It was fed by streams descending from them. Although +not a broad lake, it reached a long way to the southward, and I began to +fear that should Indians have carried off the girls, they might have +embarked on the lake, and if so, our chances of overtaking them were +small indeed. I now regretted that I had not waited to communicate with +Uncle Denis before we had started. He would probably have gone on to +the farm, and, having obtained horses, set off with a strong party, +which by proceeding along the eastern side of the lake, might have +headed the people, whoever they were, who had committed the outrage. We +were satisfied, however, that there were not many of them. They would, +however, should we come up with them, have a great advantage over us, +for we could not venture to fire at them for fear of wounding their +captives, whereas they might blaze away at us with impunity. I said +something of this in effect to the Dominie. + +"If they are Indians, they are not likely to have fire-arms," he +remarked, "and I cannot fancy that white men would have any object in +carrying off the dear girls." + +Fast as we were going, Dio must have gone faster, for still we saw +nothing of him. Whenever we slackened our pace, Rose exclaimed-- + +"Go on, Massa Tidey, go on Massa Mike, no stop for me, I keep up, me got +wind now!" + +Her eagerness enabled her indeed to exert herself in a way she could not +otherwise have done. At length we caught sight of the water between the +trees, and in a few minutes we were standing on the shore of the lake. +The moon shed her bright light on the calm surface of the beautiful +sheet of water, enabling us to see a great distance along it. At one +side rose the mountains, on the other the banks were fringed with trees +of magnificent growth, except here and there, where grassy glades came +down to the edge of the water, or points jutted out, forming sheltered +bays and nooks, which might conceal those of whom we were in search. We +stood for some minutes straining our eyes, in the expectation of seeing +a canoe gliding rapidly away from us, but not a speck could we +distinguish on the unruffled bosom of the lake. We searched about to +try and discover any signs of a canoe having touched the shore, but we +could find nothing to indicate that one had been there. That we had not +lost the trail, however, we felt nearly certain. We had now to decide +what probable direction the fugitives had taken; it was not likely that +they would have gone towards the mountains, and indeed, on further +search, we found that the wood in that direction was almost +impracticable. Not a single clear track or opening through it could we +discover, while to the left, people could easily have made their way +either close to the shore, or a short distance from it. + +We accordingly advanced in that direction, moving with the greatest +possible caution, so that we might have a chance of discovering the +marauders before they would be aware of our approach. The Dominie went +first, I followed, and Rose brought up the rear, for nothing would +induce her to return. + +"If you fight, I fight too, so dat we get back de young ladies!" she +exclaimed in a determined tone, and possessing herself of a thick stick +which lay on the shore of the lake, she trudged on after us. + +We trod as carefully as we could, keeping ourselves as much as possible +concealed by the trunks of the trees and brushwood. Sometimes we had to +get down close to the lake when we could discover no other way through +the wood. The Dominie was trying to find a path between the trees when +I heard Rose exclaim-- + +"Hist! Massa Mike, dare come canoe ober de water!" + +I called to Mr Tidey, who stopped, and, sheltering ourselves under the +shadow of the trees, we looked in the direction Rose pointed. There, +sure enough, was a canoe skimming lightly over the moonlit waters. She +appeared to be of large size, though I could only see two paddles going. +We watched eagerly to know to what part of the bank she was directing +her course. Twice it was altered, as if the people in the canoe were +uncertain where to land. At length they paddled on towards the very +spot where we had first struck the lake. + +"There are only two of them, and we shall be able to tackle the fellows, +whoever they are," whispered the Dominie to me; "they are connected with +those who carried off the little girls, and have probably come to meet +them; there is no time to be lost, follow me," and he led the way back +by the path we had come. + +We could occasionally get a glimpse of the canoe, which came slowly on. +She was of large size, and there were to a certainty but two paddlers. +I could hear poor Rose behind me panting and puffing as we hurried +along; still she persevered, prompted by her desire to help us. + +We reached a thick clump of bushes, close by the spot towards which the +canoe was directing course, and, crouching down, we remained concealed, +waiting until the Dominie should give the signal for action. What he +intended to do I could only guess, as it would have been imprudent to +have spoken, lest our voices should be heard, though the splash of the +paddles prevented the sound we made in passing along from reaching the +ears of the people in the canoe. Of course we could easily have shot +the two men, but as we had no proof of their being enemies, such an act +would have been unjust. They shoved in carefully, for fear of knocking +the bows against any logs or branches beneath the surface, and then one +of them stepped out. As he stood up, with the moonlight pouring full +upon him, we saw that he was a white man, with a broad-brimmed hat, a +brace of pistols in his belt, and a rifle in his hand. The other person +was an Indian, who, after his companion had secured the canoe by a rope +to the trunk of a sapling, remained seated, as if waiting his return. +The white man looked about him, but did not appear to discover the signs +of our having been there. It was a wonder, however, that he did not see +us, probably his eyes were dazzled by the bright moonlight. Had the +Indian landed, there could be little doubt that he would have perceived +us, though we all three sat as motionless as the objects around. + +The white man whistled shrilly several times, but receiving no response +to his signal, he began to make his way in the direction from whence we +had first come, as if he expected to meet his associates. I was +doubtful whether the Dominie would follow and attempt to seize him, or +would wait until he had got out of hearing and then endeavour to capture +the Indian. This would not be a very easy undertaking, unless he was +less watchful than is usually the case with his people. At last the +Dominie touched my arm as a signal to me to be prepared for instant +action; he then began to creep cautiously forward, so as to get round +the bush and close to the canoe, before making the rush which would +indicate our presence. I imitated his example, and had no doubt that +Rose was creeping after us. Should the Indian possess a rifle, he would +probably have time to fire it and recall his companion to his +assistance, even if he failed to hit either of us; and at all events he +would cry out, and we must master him quickly to be in time to deal with +the other man, who would not probably stand on ceremony about using his +weapons. On we crept: I could hear my own heart beating, and expected +every moment that the Indian would discover us. Presently we saw him +stand up in the attitude of listening, as if he had heard some +suspicious sounds; his eyes were directed towards the very spot where we +were concealed, but the thick bushes prevented a gleam of light falling +upon us. He was evidently on the alert, and the difficulty of seizing +him was increased. He looked round, but appeared to have discovered +nothing. It was important to master him without delay, before the +return of the white man, when we should have two people to deal with +instead of one. + +Again the Dominie began to creep forward; careful as he was, the Indian +must have heard the noise, for he again stood up with a bow in his hand +ready to shoot. Seeing nothing, he drew in the painter and stepped on +shore, advancing a few paces and gazing round him, peering towards where +we were crouching down. Should he discover us, he would have time to +shoot and afterwards bound away out of our reach. Presently we heard a +sound as if some creature, if not a human being, was passing through the +forest at a short distance on the farther side of where he stood; he +turned his head as if satisfied that it had caused the sounds he had +heard, and with his arrow on the string he advanced a pace or two, as if +searching for the animal. As we could not expect a more favourable +moment for our purpose, the Dominie and I simultaneously sprang forward. +With one bound we were upon the Indian, before he had time to turn and +defend himself. The Dominie seized him by the neck, and striking his +legs we brought him to the ground, when Rose, as he opened his mouth to +cry out, thrust into it the handkerchief she had torn from her head. He +struggled violently to free himself, but as the black woman was also as +strong as a man, we were able to hold him down until she had secured my +handkerchief round his legs. The Dominie and I then fastened his arms +behind him, turning him over with very little ceremony. So effectually +had Rose gagged him that he was beginning to grow black in the face from +suffocation, but we were unwilling to withdraw it, lest he should shout +out and warn his companion of what had happened. Lest the latter should +hear us, we also did not speak above a whisper. + +"The sooner we place our prisoner at a distance from this the better," +said the Dominie, and with the assistance of Rose, we lifted him up and +carried him almost to the point we had reached when we at first saw the +canoe. + +He allowed himself to be carried unresistingly along, but we were not +deceived by this, as we knew perfectly well that he was but waiting an +opportunity to get free. We now thought that we could with prudence +take the gag out of his mouth, to try and learn from him what object he +and his companion had in view, though we had little doubt about the +matter. Mr Tidey made signs that if he cried out, it would be the +worse for him. Rose then carefully pulled out the handkerchief. Not a +word, however, could we elicit from him; he seemed to suppose that we +were going to put him to death, and, stoically resigned to his fate, +nothing we could say had any effect. + +"Perhaps he doesn't understand English," observed Mr Tidey; "and as he +has not his hands at liberty, he cannot make signs; our only safe +course, however, is to treat him as an enemy, and keep him bound. Rose, +we will leave him under your charge, while we go back and try and tackle +his companion. You will not let him escape?" + +"No, massa, no fear ob dat," answered Rose, stuffing the handkerchief +back into the Indian's mouth, "if he try to move, I soon make him keep +quiet." + +As the white man might be returning, we hastened back to be ready for +him. I suggested that we should haul up the canoe, and knock a hole in +her, to prevent the stranger, should he escape us, from getting off; but +Mr Tidey thought that she might be of use to us, and advised instead +that we should hide the paddles, which would answer the purpose equally +well. + +We listened as we drew near the spot where the canoe lay, but we could +hear no one approaching. Without hesitation, therefore, drawing her to +the bank, I stepped into her, and searched about to ascertain what she +contained. I soon discovered several pieces of rope, a basket of +provisions, and a bottle of rum. It was possible that the Indian's +apparent stupidity had arisen from his having drunk a portion of the +latter. The rope confirmed us in our belief that the men in the canoe +had come for the purpose of making a prisoner of some one or other. +Bringing the rope and paddles, I returned on shore. Scarcely had we +hidden them in the bushes than, hearing footsteps approaching, we +hurriedly concealed ourselves. Presently the white man we had before +seen emerged from the gloom of the trees. We saw him looking towards +the canoe. + +"What can have become of the rascals?" he exclaimed with an oath, +speaking to himself. + +He was advancing towards the canoe, expecting probably to find the +Indian asleep within her, when Mr Tidey and I sprang so rapidly on him, +that before he had even time to turn round, we had him stretched on the +ground, the Dominie holding him tightly with one hand on his throat and +the other on his right arm, while I held down his left arm and presented +one of his own pistols, which I drew from his belt, at his head. + +"You know best if this is loaded; and, if it is, should you make the +slightest resistance, I will shoot you," I said in a firm tone. + +"Who are you, villains, who dare thus attack a free and independent +citizen?" exclaimed the stranger, following the inquiry with a volley of +abuse. + +"Keep a civil tongue in your head and answer the questions we put, or +you may have to repent it," said the Dominie. "Why did you come here?" + +"I came to look after a rascally black who escaped from his owner, and +you will be sorry for having interfered with me in my lawful business." + +"We are ready to take the consequences," answered Mr Tidey. "Before we +set you free, we intend to learn whether your story is true; so submit +quietly, or we shall be obliged to resort to more violence than we +wish." + +While we were holding down the man, I examined his countenance, and was +sure that he was one of those who had so outrageously attacked our +house, I therefore felt no compunction at the way we were treating him. +Had he shown any courage, he might possibly have freed himself, but we +managed--not without some difficulty--to lash his arms behind him, and +to bind his legs so that he could move neither hand nor foot. + +"The best thing we can do with him is to place him in the canoe, and let +him remain there until we have discovered the little girls, for, depend +upon it, his companions have carried them off, probably with the +intention of holding them as hostages until we deliver up Dio," observed +Mr Tidey. + +We had also another reason for keeping him a prisoner, to which, +however, Mr Tidey did not allude in his presence. Without loss of +time, we partly dragged and partly lifted him up to the canoe, into +which we tumbled him without much ceremony. + +"If you attempt to struggle, you'll kick a hole in the canoe and go to +the bottom, my friend; so I would advise you to keep quiet," said the +Dominie. + +The man only answered with a volley of oaths, but no further information +could we draw from him. We therefore left him to his own reflections, +while we hastened back to Rose, whom we found seated by her prisoner. + +"He stay berry quiet," she said, "an' me no tinkee he run 'way." + +"That may be, but we will secure him as we have done his companion," +said Mr Tidey, producing a piece of rope which he had brought with him +from the canoe; and, dragging the Indian to a tree, we lashed him so +securely to it, that we believed with all his cunning he could not set +himself free. + +"Now let us continue our search for the little girls and Dio," said the +Dominie; "depend upon it, they cannot be far off. Probably they are +somewhere near the shores of the lake, and if we approach their captors +cautiously, we may master them as we have the other man." + +I suggested that we should paddle round the shores of the lake in the +canoe, and as they were probably expecting her arrival with two men in +her, they would not suspect who we were until we got close up to them. + +The Dominie, after a little consideration, agreed to my proposal. + +"What are we to do with Rose?" he asked. + +"She can lie down at the bottom of the canoe, and assist in keeping our +prisoner quiet, unless she will consent to remain behind," I observed. + +"No, no, me go with massa!" she exclaimed. + +As she might be useful, Mr Tidey agreed to her going. We hurried back +once more to the canoe, and, lifting in Rose, placed her in the bows +near the head of our prisoner, in a position which would enable her +speedily to tighten his gag, should he attempt to cry out. We then, +taking the paddles, commenced our voyage, I sitting in the bows, Mr +Tidey in the stern. We paddled in towards every opening which was +likely to afford a spot for camping, but no object could we see besides +the tall trees rising up above the water. We had gone some distance, +and I had begun to fear that those we were in search of had moved off +from the shores of the lake, and that we might have a long march to come +up with them, should we discover the direction they had taken, when I +perceived a more ruddy tint on the surface of the lake than that +reflected by the silvery moon. + +"There must be a fire somewhere near the shore," I whispered, "people +are encamped there, depend upon it; how shall we proceed?" + +"We will land close in here, and then try to steal upon them unobserved, +so as to reconnoitre them first. If there are too many people to +master, we must wait until some of the party fall asleep, and then try +to surprise them. One at least is sure to be on guard; we must knock +him over and then spring on the rest. We shall be able to judge better +when we ascertain how matters stand," observed the Dominie. + +As he spoke he turned the head of the canoe to the shore, which we soon +reached. Rose had crammed the handkerchief tight down into the mouth of +the prisoner, or he would to a certainty have betrayed us. Even now I +was afraid that we might have been seen, but no hail reached us. Making +as little noise as possible with our paddles, we soon reached the beach, +and, making a sign for Rose not to follow us, we landed, leaving her in +charge of the canoe. We both crept forward as cautiously as any Indians +could have done. As we approached the fire we heard the sound of +voices, and by getting a little nearer we could hear what was said. + +"I wonder that fellow Jowl hasn't found us out yet," observed one of the +speakers; "we shall have a long tramp for it if he doesn't appear very +soon, and the captain and his people will be down upon us. Now that +we've got the black, I wish that we had let the girls alone, they'll +only cause trouble, for old Bracher won't know what to do with them." + +"We'd better leave them, then, to shift for themselves, they'll find +their way home somehow or other; it matters little to us if they don't," +answered another. + +"But they'll betray the whereabouts of our train to the captain, and +he'll be after us with his people and demand satisfaction. If he proves +the strongest, he'll carry off the black, about whom we have had all +this trouble, into the bargain," observed the first. + +"If he comes at all, it will give old Bracher an opportunity of shooting +him, that's what they'd like to do better than anything else," remarked +a third. + +The men continued talking on the same subject, but they had said enough +as to the girls being carried off. From it I gathered that Mr Bracher +was travelling eastward with a waggon train, probably having failed in +the west, and that, finding himself in the neighbourhood of our new +location, he had despatched a party to try and recapture Dio, but that +meeting Kathleen and Lily, they had made prisoners of them with the +intention of keeping them as hostages until the slave was delivered up. +I also ascertained that Dio had fallen into their hands, and that +consequently my sister and Lily were of less value in their sight than +would otherwise have been the case. + +Although we heard but three persons speaking, there might be many more, +but this we could only determine by getting nearer to the camp. I made +a sign to Mr Tidey to remain quiet while I crept forward. I stopped +whenever there was a pause in the conversation, and stole on when the +sound of the voices would prevent them from hearing any noise I might +make. My fear was that they might have with them some Indians who would +be much more likely to discover me than they were. At length a clump of +bushes alone intervened between me and their camp-fire. Carefully +raising my head, I looked through an opening, when I saw four men seated +on the ground, with their rifles by their sides. A short distance off +lay Dio, with his arms bound behind him and secured by a rope to a tree. +Still farther was a rude hut formed of branches, beneath the shelter of +which, I had no doubt, Kathleen and Lily were resting. So far the men +had shown some humanity. To recover the "captives" it was evident that +we must use stratagem rather than force. We could scarcely expect to +overcome four well-armed men, even should we first succeed in setting +Dio at liberty. We might, however, easily shoot two of them, and then +spring upon the other two, but as I felt that we should not be justified +in so doing, I was about to retire and tell Mr Tidey what I had seen +when one of the men started up, exclaiming-- + +"I saw some one watching us through the bushes." + +I was conscious that the glare of the fire had for a moment fallen on my +face. All hope of our surprising them was lost. I heard some one +approaching behind me. + +"Whoop!" whispered Mr Tidey; "we will try what effect terror will +produce." + +Raising our voices, we imitated, with some effect, the terrific Indian +war-whoop, dropping on the ground as we did so, to avoid a shower of +bullets aimed at us. + +"Get hold of the black, and let us be off!" cried one of the men; "we +must not have had our expedition for nothing." + +Before we could regain our feet, one of the fellows cut the rope which +held Dio, and, seizing him by the neck, dragged him along across the +glade on the opposite side of which the whole party disappeared, passing +close to the hut in which we guessed that Kathleen and Lily were +confined. Had we before been inclined to fire, we were less willing to +do so now, for fear of wounding either the girls or poor Dio, who was +placed as a shield by the man who was dragging him along. Our first +impulse was to run and rescue the dear ones who had caused us so much +anxiety. They shrieked out, overcome with terror, as they heard us +approaching, until my voice reassured them. By the light of the fire +which streamed into their hut they saw who we were. A few words served +to calm them, and make them understand what had happened, and in another +minute Rose came running up, unable to restrain her anxiety, she having +heard the firing, and fearing that we might be killed or wounded. + +"We must not let Dio be carried off if we can help it!" I exclaimed. +"Come on, Mr Tidey; let us pursue the fellows, and perhaps they'll grow +tired of dragging him along, and set him at liberty." + +"Yes, yes, Massa Tidey, you go 'long, me take care ob de little girls. +See dar' is rifle, me fight for dem if anybody comes!" exclaimed Rose. + +Sure enough one of the men in his terror had left his rifle behind him. +We should thus find only three armed antagonists, unless he had also +pistols. At all events, without stopping to consider the risk we ran, +we rushed on, again and again uttering a war-whoop. It had only the +effect, as far as we could judge, of expediting the movements of the +fugitives. Unfortunately the moon became obscured by clouds, and +increased the difficulties of our progress. + +I began indeed to fear that, after all, we should be baffled, and I knew +the sad fate which awaited Dio, should he be carried back to his former +master. We had two prisoners, to be sure, but I felt very certain that +Mr Bracher would not give up his slave for the sake of recovering them, +indeed he would be well aware that we could not keep them in captivity. +Several times I thought we were on the point of overtaking the men, but +on each occasion they managed to elude us. Whether they still fancied +that Indians were following them, we could not tell. Possibly they +might have guessed that we were white men, though they could not tell +the number of our party, and at all events did not think it worth while +to hazard a conflict, now that they had obtained the object of their +expedition. How far off Silas Bracher's train was encamped we were +uncertain, but we knew that the men could not possibly reach it, if it +was on the usual route, until some hours after noon, indeed they could +not get out of the wood bordering the lake, until daylight. + +"Can you go on, Mike?" asked Mr Tidey. + +"I will until I drop, and I don't feel at all inclined to do that just +yet," I answered. + +"Then let us continue the pursuit, but we'll not whoop again, so that we +may possibly come upon them when they least expect it." + +The forest was tolerably open, and had it been daylight, we should have +been able to see to a considerable distance. I several times took a +glance towards the east, and at length I saw the dawn breaking through +an opening in the trees. Our only fear was that the fugitives might +have turned aside, and that we had passed them. This, however, was not +likely to be the case. The light increased, and just we got near the +edge of the forest, we caught sight of the four men still dragging on +poor Dio. + +I don't know what we might have been tempted to do. I saw Mr Tidey +more than once raise his rifle, and I confess I was merely waiting for a +fair shot at one of the fellows, in spite of the risk of wounding Dio, +when my eyes fell on a party of horsemen galloping along from the +northward, having apparently skirted the edge of the forest. + +The Kentuckians saw them also, and knowing that if the horsemen were in +pursuit of them, further flight would be useless, halted and appeared to +be consulting what to do. In another minute I recognised my father and +Uncle Denis leading the party. Our friends dashed forward at the +fellows. My father was just in time to knock down one of them who had +presented his pistol at the black's head, and I fully expected that the +four men would be killed on the spot. I saw Dio, however, holding up +his hands to protect them, while he explained apparently what had +happened. We now showed ourselves, and, hurrying forward, assured my +father of the safety of Kathleen and Lily. + +"You may go, then!" he exclaimed, turning to the Kentuckians, who now +appeared thoroughly cowed, "and tell Silas Bracher, should he again +venture to send any of his men to capture this honest negro, they will +be more severely dealt with than you have been." + +The fellows, without a word of thanks, moved sulkily away towards the +south, at a much slower pace than they had hitherto been going. Three +of our men now got off their horses, to allow Mr Tidey, Dio, and me to +mount, and we rode on through the forest as fast as we could go, until +we reached Rose and her two charges; the little girls, having recovered +from their fright, had fallen asleep in their bower, while the black +nurse sat watching over them. + +I had almost forgotten our prisoners, when Mr Tidey exclaimed, "We +mustn't let the Indian and that fellow in the canoe starve to death, +which they certainly will unless we release them." + +"They can do no further harm if set at liberty, though they deserve a +pretty severe punishment," said my father. "Where are they?" + +"Not far off, and if some of you will come with me, we will send them +about their business, with a warning that, should they again attempt to +play such a trick, they will not escape so easily," observed the +Dominie. + +Martin Prentis, I, and two of the men, at once set off with Mr Tidey. +We first made our way to the canoe, where we found our prisoner groaning +with pain, for, by endeavouring to release himself, he had only +tightened the cords with which his arms and legs were lashed. We took +him out of the canoe, and from the expression of abject terror exhibited +in his countenance, I suspected that the fellow believed he was then and +there to undergo the penalty of `Lynch law,' for he looked up at the +bough of a tree above his head, as if he expected immediately to be +triced up to it. I never saw a man so crestfallen. + +"Now, my fine fellow, you know what you deserve," said the Dominie, as +Martin and the other men placed him on his feet. "You were employed by +a greater rogue than yourself; but as you have failed in your +undertaking, we do not want to be hard on you, and if you will tell us +the intentions of your master, we will set you at liberty. But, if +not--," and Mr Tidey pointed to the bough overhead. + +"I'll give you all the information you require," exclaimed the man, +trembling. "Bracher had sworn to be revenged on you for sheltering his +runaway slave, and was determined to get hold of him if he could. He +had heard that you were located in this neighbourhood, and he sent a +party with orders to capture the black at all costs." + +"That doesn't excuse them for carrying off the young ladies, and +frightening us well-nigh out of our wits, on their account." + +"I had no hand in that matter," said our prisoner. "I suppose that by +getting hold of them our people thought that they could force you to +come to terms about the nigger." + +"Probably," observed Mr Tidey; "but what were your orders, should you +fail to recover the black? Remember, we have your Indian guide in our +hands, and if you do not speak the truth, we shall be able to learn what +we want from him." + +"I will tell you everything," answered the man, as the Dominie again +glanced up at the overhanging bough. "Silas Bracher has come to grief, +and being compelled to sell up, is moving westward with a pretty +good-sized party whom he has persuaded to accompany him. We heard on +our way that Captain Loraine was located in the neighbourhood. Mr +Bracher managed, somehow or other, when we got near this, to make +friends with one of the chiefs of the red-skins, who, bribed by the +promise of a case of whisky and some fire-arms, undertook to attack +Captain Loraine's farm as soon as a good chance of success should offer. +The chief, you'll understand, was to bide his time and to bring Silas +word directly he had done the work." + +"And when is the attack to be made?" asked Mr Tidey. + +The man protested that he could not tell, but concluded that it would +not long be deferred, probably not more than a week or two, before the +train could have got to any great distance, indeed he had an idea that +some of their people were to be employed in assisting the Indians. + +Mr Tidey, though he cross-questioned the man, could elicit no further +information of importance. We therefore conducted him to my father, +who, after charging him to keep his own counsel, and not let Silas +Bracher know the information he had given, told him that he was at +liberty to return to his friends. + +Great indeed was his look of astonishment. He not only promised that he +would say nothing to Silas Bracher on the subject, but that he would +separate himself from him and his party, and join some other emigrant +train on the first opportunity. We watched him until he disappeared in +the forest, though, judging by the pace he went, we suspected that he +was in no great hurry to join his companions. + +"We have now to look after the Indian," said Mr Tidey, "and as we shall +pass not far from the spot where we left him, we will learn what he has +to say for himself, and send him about his business." + +As we were anxious to get home as soon as possible, to relieve my +mother's mind of anxiety, we lost no time in setting off. My father +took up Kathleen and Uncle Denis Lily before them, and, after some +persuasion, Rose consented to allow herself to be lifted and placed in +front of Dio's saddle. Mr Tidey and I, with Martin, pushed on ahead, +that we might without delay set at liberty the unfortunate Indian, who +was less to blame than his white employers. On reaching the spot, +however, we could nowhere see him. We searched about in every +direction. It was evident that by some means or other, he had been set +at liberty. Whether he had himself cast loose the lashings, or whether +anybody else had liberated him, we could not discover, for although +there were the marks of several feet on the ground, they might have been +ours. As there was little probability that the Indian would have +remained in the neighbourhood, we soon abandoned the search and rejoined +the party. + +It was late in the evening when we approached the farm, and recollecting +the threatened attack by the Indians, I felt more anxiety than I can +express, lest during our absence, they should have carried out their +project. Great therefore, was the relief to my mind when I saw Biddy +running down the hill to welcome us, followed by my mother to whose +charge we soon committed Kathleen and Lily. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +AN UNCOMFORTABLE STATE OF THINGS--KLUKO PAYS US A VISIT--STARTLING +INTELLIGENCE--THE FATE OF SILAS BRACHER--RETURN TO THE FARM--THE +INDIAN'S FRIENDSHIP FOR DIO--THE RED MAN'S OPINION OF SLAVERY--UNCLE +DENIS'S MENAGERIE--WINTER AT THE FARM--WE HAVE AN ADVENTURE--FIGHT +BETWEEN A SABLE AND PORCUPINE--WE CAPTURE THE COMBATANTS--THEIR +APPEARANCE--TREATMENT IN THE CAGE--TAMING OF THE SABLE AND URSON--LOSS +OF POULTRY--IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE--SOMETHING ABOUT OURSELVES. + +The warning we had received of a projected attack on the farm by the +Indians compelled us to be on our guard. We kept a strict watch at +night, and two or three of us were constantly employed in scouting in +the neighbourhood, so as in good time to discover any red-skins who +might be approaching with hostile intent. Cunning as they may fancy +themselves, they are in reality easily outwitted by the superior +intelligence of white men. + +We had got so accustomed to this state of things that we took them as a +matter of course. Even my mother, Kathleen, and Lily, were not in the +slightest degree alarmed, though they became somewhat anxious when my +father and uncle, or Dan and I did not return at the hour they expected. +We were annoyed chiefly by the interruption to our usual avocations, +as, when we had been out all day, neither our worthy Dominie, Dan, nor I +were much inclined for lessons. We, however, managed to hunt as usual, +as we could at the same time act as scouts, though we ran, it must be +confessed, some risk of being caught by any hostile Indians who might be +in the neighbourhood. Impunity, however, made us bold, and we were +inclined to think that the threatened attack would never take place. +The men continued cutting down trees, putting up fences, ploughing, and +sowing, as regularly as before, though, by my father's orders, they +always carried their arms with them, and piled them close at hand, so as +to be ready for instant use. + +Mr Tidey, Dan, and I had started on horseback one morning just before +daybreak, agreeing to meet at noon at a certain spot about ten miles +from the farm, by the side of a stream near a wood, where we could light +our fire and cook any game we might have shot. I had had a successful +morning's sport, having shot a fawn, a couple of turkeys, and several +small birds; and at the hour agreed on I arrived with my horse well +loaded at our proposed camp. Finding that the Dominie and my brother +had not yet reached it, I collected sticks and lighted a fire, so that I +might have dinner ready for them. + +While I was so employed, occasionally taking a look round in the +expectation of seeing either the Dominie or Dan approaching, I was +startled by discovering an Indian who had suddenly emerged from the wood +about twenty paces off. My first impulse was to seize my rifle which +lay on the ground near me, but a second glance showed me that although +he had a bow in his hand, there was no arrow in the string. + +"You are not as cautious as you should be, young pale-face," he +observed, as he came up to me. "This is the second time I have caught +you off your guard; an enemy approaching as I did might have shot you +before you had discovered him." + +As he spoke I recognised our friend Kluko. We shook hands, and he +seated himself by the fire, when I offered him some of the food I was +cooking, which would, I knew, suit his taste, though not sufficiently +roasted to please our palates. + +"I heard the sound of your rifle several times, and I tracked you here, +as I wanted to bring you good news," he said. + +"I thank you, pray speak on," I answered; "I know that it will give +Kluko as much pleasure to tell good news as it will afford me to hear +it." + +"When I saw you last, I warned you that a party of Blackfeet, instigated +by a white man, had undertaken the destruction of your farm: I have now +to tell you that they quarrelled with their white friend, and, following +his trail as he journeyed westward, they have attacked his camp, and cut +him and his people to pieces, carrying off their scalps as trophies." + +"Do you speak of Silas Bracher?" I asked. + +"That was the name of the white chief; I have no doubt about the matter, +although I could not remember it," answered Kluko. "As the red-men +obtained all the booty they could carry off, many times more than the +amount of the reward they expected to receive, they are not likely to +attack your farm, indeed they are already on their road back to their +own hunting-grounds, so you may now rest in peace for some time to come. +Should I again hear that they are out on the war-path, I will give you +timely notice. You know Kluko is your friend, and that you can trust +him." + +I assured the Indian that I put full confidence in the information he +had brought, and invited him to accompany us to the farm, as I was sure +my father would be glad to see him and thank him for the service he had +rendered us. He was evidently pleased, and said he would come and see +his pale-faced brothers. In a short time Dan and Mr Tidey arrived, and +after they had saluted our Indian friend in the usual fashion, I told +them of the news he had brought. + +"I was very sure that that wretched man would come to a violent end," +observed Mr Tidey; "although he intended evil against us, we are bound +not to rejoice over his fate; we have been protected by a higher power." + +"The great Spirit takes care of those who trust him," observed Kluko +reverently. + +Having as much game as our horses could carry, we set off to return +home. The Indian, although on foot, easily kept up with us, and I could +not but admire his firm step and graceful carriage as he moved over the +ground, whether rough or smooth. The information he brought, relieved +my mother's mind of a constant source of care, but though my father +believed it to be true, he still considered it possible that the farm +might some day or other be attacked, and insisted that we should +continue the precautions we had hitherto adopted to escape being +surprised. + +Kluko remained with us nearly a month, and won our regard by his quiet, +intelligent, and unobtrusive manners. Although dressed in skins, he was +perfectly the gentleman, moreover an enlightened and sincere Christian, +for he had thrown aside all heathen customs and superstitions. His +great object appeared to be to benefit his fellow-creatures. He became +strongly attached to Dio, whose history he had heard, and expressed +himself highly indignant that any people should reduce another race to +slavery. + +"They speak with contempt of the red-men, but no red-men, cruel and +blood-thirsty as they are, ever do that," he observed. "When they take +prisoners they torture them, it is true, for a short time, but they then +put them to death; they would not subject them to a long life of torture +of soul and body." + +Kluko accompanied us on several hunting expeditions, but he was much +less expert than we were in the use of the rifle. He could shoot very +well when he got his weapon on a rest, but could never manage to bring +down game on the wing. The first time he saw me kill a bird flying, he +expressed his astonishment. He had been accustomed to the bow from his +boyhood, he said, and, that his people never attempted to shoot at any +creature except on the bough of a tree, or running along the ground. + +At length he took his departure, promising to pay us another visit ere +long, should his life be spared. Month after month went by without any +alarms from Indians, while we heard nothing more of the threatened +attack on the farm by the Blackfeet. + +Uncle Denis was successful in trapping several animals to add to his +menagerie. One day he arrived with two wolf cubs, which, although +ill-tempered at first, soon became as tame as puppies, though less +playful. We obtained also three young fawns, of different species of +deer; charming little creatures they were, great pets with Kathleen and +Lily, and would follow them round the farm and into the house. They +were of course not allowed to go to a distance, lest they might be +carried off by any wild animal prowling about. The young wolves at +first showed an inclination to bite at them when they came near, but +were soon taught better manners, and afterwards never attempted to +molest them. + +Bruin soon became on the most friendly terms with them, and would roll +on the ground, while they leapt over and over his body, and frolicked +round and round him. One of the last animals added to the menagerie, +was the most difficult to tame, and great doubt was entertained whether +it would be prudent to allow it to associate with the other members of +the happy family. Uncle Denis arrived with it on horseback in a big bag +hung to the saddle-bow, late one evening. + +"What have you got there?" we all asked eagerly, as we saw that there +was a living creature kicking about in the bag. + +"Something which, although at present somewhat inclined to be unruly, +will, I hope, before long become as gentle as Lily's pet lamb. I must +send it to school, however, at first, to receive instruction, before I +allow it to mix in the world. Here, Mike, take it to the cage; don't +let it out until I come and help you." + +I took the bag from him, and by the weight I supposed that it contained +an animal the size of a large cat. The cage, I should say, was about +six feet high and eight square, composed of strong hickory, or oak bars, +placed so close together, that no animal could force its way out, while +only such as had teeth as strong as those of the beaver, could have +bitten through the wood. The door was made to slide from side to side, +in order that only as much of it as was necessary need be opened at a +time. Uncle Denis, having untied the string of the bag, put the mouth +inside, when out bounded a beautiful little animal of a tawny hue, with +a long tail and a remarkably small head, somewhat more elongated than +that of a cat. On its back and sides were several rows of dark streaks, +and on its shoulders some spots of similar colour, resembling those of +the leopard. It made towards the opposite bars, but finding it could +not get out, began circling round and round the cage, looking very much +astonished on finding that, although out of the bag, it could not +escape. + +"Why, that's a young panther," exclaimed Dan. "Do you hope ever to tame +it, Uncle Denis?" + +"A `painter' it is, or rather a puma, to give it its proper name: I have +no doubt that in a short time, it will be as gentle as a domestic cat," +answered our uncle; "but we must take care not to irritate it, as its +temper is none of the sweetest." + +The little creature continued running round and round, sometimes leaping +up, and trying to scramble to the top of the cage, expecting, probably, +to find an outlet in that direction. When at length it found all its +efforts of no avail, it seemed to resign itself to its fate. Uncle +Denis having brought it some small pieces of meat, it devoured them +greedily, and looked towards his hands, expecting more. He gave it a +very small portion at a time, refusing to give it any food, until it +came humbly crawling up to receive the morsel. He then put in a number +of leafy boughs, under which it crawled and went to sleep. The next day +it was evidently tamer, and more accustomed to the sight of human +beings, and after this, the moment he appeared, it came towards him in a +suppliant manner to receive its food. In less than a week, it was +perfectly tame, and before a month was over, followed him about like a +dog, while it became on perfectly friendly terms with the rest of the +animals. At first it evidently stood in awe of Bruin, conscious that +the bear had the power of giving it an unpleasant gripe, but finding +itself unharmed, began to play with its shaggy coated companion, and the +two in a short time became fast friends. + +Once more wintry blasts blew up the valley, the ground was covered with +snow, and lakes and streams were frozen over. We had plenty of +occupation, both indoors and out, and although the days were short, the +moon for nearly half the month afforded us light sufficient to move +about with as great ease as in summer. Habited in dresses of fur, we +hunted often at considerable distances from home, either bison or deer, +or smaller animals. + +On such occasions we built a shanty in some sheltered wood, of birch +bark, when it was to be procured, or boughs stuck into the ground close +together, with a thick mass of snow piled up against them, while a +cheerful fire blazed in front. + +Very frequently, however, we dispensed with any shelter beyond such as +the wood afforded, and, wrapt in our blankets, lay down to sleep on the +snow, canopied by the starry vault of heaven. + +Uncle Denis and I were out on one of these hunting expeditions, when, as +we were following the tracks of a deer through a wood, accompanied by +Boxer and Toby, my uncle, who was ahead, made a sign to me to advance +cautiously, while he, stopping, concealed himself behind a tree. I +crept forward as he desired, not knowing whether he had sighted a deer +or a party of Indians on the war-path. On getting up to him, I found +that he was observing the movements of two animals, very different in +appearance to each other. On the trunk of a fallen tree, stood a +porcupine, or urson, with quills erect, looking down on a smaller +animal, which I at once recognised as a marten, or rather, a sable, +which was gazing up in a defiant way, apparently meditating an attack on +the other. + +"I should like to catch and tame both those animals," whispered Uncle +Denis. "Keep back the dogs or the sable will escape and the urson will +treat them in a way they are not likely to forget." The sable was +evidently bent on having some porcupine meat for breakfast, and kept +moving backwards and forwards, meditating a spring at the nose of its +formidable antagonist; but, aware of the power of the latter's tail, was +waiting for a favourable opportunity to seize it. The porcupine, though +so much larger, and naturally moving only at a slow pace, seemed aware +of the superior agility of the sable, which would enable it to spring +from side to side, or dash forward and attack it in front, when its +armed tail would have been of no avail. Presently the sable retired to +a distance, and I thought would have discovered us, but at that moment +it made a dash at the nose of the porcupine, who, whisking round its +tail in an extraordinary fashion, sent a shower of darts into the body +of its opponent. This did not, however, prevent the latter from seizing +it with its sharp teeth and dragging it to the ground. + +"Now is our time," whispered Uncle Denis, putting down his rifle and +unstrapping his blanket, and I imitating his example, we rushed forward +and threw them over the two combatants. The sable, however, managed to +spring out, when the dogs gave chase, but we were too much occupied to +see with what result. The porcupine in its struggles whisked about its +tail, sending several of its quills through the blanket, but the rest of +its body being unarmed, we managed to press it down until we had tied +the blanket tightly round it. Having secured the urson in a way which +made its escape impossible, we turned our attention to the sable, which +the dogs had brought to bay, but the brave little creature was becoming +faint, from the wounds inflicted on it from the porcupine's tail, the +quills from which were sticking out all over one side of its body. +Seeing that there was no other way of capturing it, I picked up a stick +and dealt it a blow on the head, sufficient to stun it, but not to +deprive it of life. While I kept back the dogs, Uncle Denis, kneeling +down, pulled out the quills, and then throwing my blanket over the +animal, he secured it as we had done the urson. It seemed very +doubtful, however, whether it would revive, but my uncle said that he +would take it home, and should it recover, would try, with gentle +treatment, to tame its fierce spirit. To carry our unusual prizes, we +formed a long pole from a sapling, to which we secured the creatures +side by side. Placing the pole on our shoulders, we began our homeward +march. We had the best part of the day before us, and hoped to reach +the farm before dark. The urson, weighed heavily, and sometimes it made +a convulsive struggle and very nearly worked itself out of the blanket. +The sable for some time lay perfectly quiet, but at last we observed a +movement in the blanket, which gave us hopes that it was reviving, and +we had to put on additional fastenings lest it should escape. To make a +long story short, we at length arrived, pretty well tired with our heavy +burden. Our friends were somewhat disappointed on finding that we had +brought a couple of living animals instead of the fat venison or buffalo +they had expected. We, however, relieved their minds by telling them +that we had left the meat of a couple of wapiti and a big-horn sheep _en +cache_, and Martin and another man were sent off with the horses to +bring it in. We had now to dispose of our captives. The urson was +tumbled into the cage, which had before served as a prison to the young +puma, while one of smaller dimensions, with iron bars, served as the +present habitation of the sable. I cannot stop to describe the process +by which both creatures were tamed. The next morning Kathleen and Lily +came eagerly to look at them, as they had never seen anything of the +kind before. They were greatly surprised at the size of the urson, +which was nearly four feet long; the body measured upwards of three +feet, and the tail rather less than nine inches. At first they thought +it was a young bear, which, from the long blackish brown hair which +covered it, concealing the quills, it somewhat resembled, it having also +lost a considerable number of the longer quills in its fight with the +sable. It had, however, others on the head and hind-quarters, which +were more visible than the short ones on the rest of its body. The +urson plays a not unimportant part in the destruction of the forests of +North America, as it feeds entirely on the bark of trees. This it +separates from the branches with its sharp teeth, commencing at the +highest and working its way downwards. Having destroyed one tree, it +climbs up to the top of another, and carries on the same process, always +proceeding in a straight line, and I have often, when passing through a +forest, been able to trace its progress by the line of barked trees, +which are sure ultimately to die. It is asserted by some hunters, that +a single urson will consume the bark of a hundred trees in the course of +a year. Our urson, though it became attached to Uncle Denis and would +feed out of his hand, was always an object of awe to the rest of the +animals, who seemed well aware of its power of inflicting punishment on +any of them who might offend it. Even Bruin held it in respect, and +none of them ever attempted to be on too familiar terms. + +The sable took even longer to tame than the urson. We used to feed it +partly on vegetable and partly on animal diet. In winter it preferred +the latter. After it had had its meals, it had the habit of going to +sleep so soundly that it was difficult to awaken it. It was about +eighteen inches long, exclusive of its bushy tail, and much resembled +the ordinary marten in shape. The fur was of a rich brown, with white +about the neck, and on the head there was a grey tinge. It was of +unusual length for so small an animal, and its most remarkable +peculiarity was, that in whatever way the hair was pressed down, it lay +smoothly on the animal's back. It extended down the legs to the end of +the claws. So tame did it at last become, that it was allowed to roam +about at large. Shortly afterwards Kathleen and Lily lost a favourite +hen and several young chickens, and as there could be no doubt as to who +was the criminal, the sable was doomed to imprisonment for life. Its +health suffered in consequence, and in a couple of years it died, but +Uncle Denis got 10 pounds for its skin, so that it thus became far more +profitable dead than alive. + +I have said little of the doings of my sister and Lily. Both were +growing into charming young girls, and certainly looked older than they +really were. They were also--which was of more importance--sensible and +good, devoted to our mother. I always looked upon Lily as a sister; +indeed our mother treated her with the same affection as she did +Kathleen. + +Months and years went by, faster than I could suppose possible. We +brought more and more ground under cultivation, our cattle increased, as +did our herds of swine even still faster, while the few sheep we had +brought became a large flock. Mr Tidey still acted as tutor to the +family. Dan had, however, become almost a young man, and I had long +considered myself grown up. We laboured on the farm, hunted and fished +and traded in furs; some of the furs we bought from the Indians, and a +considerable number we trapped or shot ourselves. + +Uncle Denis remained a bachelor, although, when urged by my mother, he +sometimes talked of going eastward to look out for a wife. I had no +intention of following his example even if he did go. I could not tell +whether Lily would consent to marry me, but I determined some day to ask +her, feeling now that I should never find her equal in any part of the +world. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +MY MOTHER IS TAKEN DANGEROUSLY ILL--DIO AND I SET OFF TO FORT HAMILTON-- +BOXER DISOBEDIENT--END OF OUR FIRST DAY'S JOURNEY--AN AGREEABLE ADDITION +TO OUR SUPPER--CAT-FISH--MY DOG ON THE WATCH--A MIDNIGHT INTERRUPTION-- +OVERTAKEN BY THE SNOW--A TRYING DAY'S MARCH--WE ARE AT LENGTH ABLE TO +CAMP--STRONG INCLINATION TO SLEEP--BOXER KEEPS WATCH--THE RED-SKINS +NEAR--OUR HORSES AND RIFLES STOLEN--WE SUFFER FROM HUNGER--WE CONTINUE +OUR WAY ON FOOT--SLEEP IN A HOLLOW TREE--PURSUED BY WOLVES--WE KILL ONE +OF THE PACK--SAVED BY OUR DOG AND A BUFFALO CARCASE--WORN OUT--CAMP. + +Hitherto our community had enjoyed the most uninterrupted good health, +no accidents had even occurred requiring more surgical skill than my +father or uncle were able to afford. In this we were especially +fortunate, for we knew of no doctor nearer than Fort Hamilton, and we +could scarcely expect him to come in any ordinary case of illness. At +length our dear mother began to ail, and her pale cheek and sunken eye +showed that she was suffering greatly. One evening, towards the end of +the year, the trees being already stripped of their leaves, Lily came to +me. + +"Our dear mother is, I fear, very, very ill," she said; "I don't think +that your father is aware how serious her case is, and unless we can get +a doctor to prescribe for her, I am afraid that she will die. I should +be sorry to frighten you unnecessarily, Mike, but I am sure it is of the +greatest importance that a medical man should see her without delay." + +"I am ready to set off this moment, and I will endeavour to bring back a +doctor at all costs," I answered. + +"Do go, Mike," she said; "and yet I fear that you may encounter dangers +on the way, the journey is long, and the Indians are less peaceably +disposed, it is reported, than they have been of late, but I pray that +God will protect you, and I am sure that He will, when you are +performing an act of duty." + +"Neither difficulties nor dangers shall prevent me from going, and I +feel as you do, that it is most important our mother should have medical +assistance. I am the fittest person to go, and I shall have no fears, +knowing that you, dear Lily, are praying for me." + +"Remember too, Mike, that God will hear my prayers, and grant them too, +as He has promised," exclaimed Lily; "what an encouragement it is to +know that He does hear faithful prayer, and never fails to attend to +it." + +As may be supposed, this was not the whole of our conversation. When my +father came in, I broke the subject to him; not wishing to alarm him +more than necessary about my mother's health, at the same time anxious +to obtain his permission for going. He at first hesitated, as I +expected that he would do, being more aware even than Lily was of the +difficulties of such a journey at that season of the year, when at any +time a snow-storm might come on and cover the ground many feet in depth. +At last, however, when I told him what Lily had said, he consented. I +had intended to go alone, trusting to my rifle for support, should I +require more provisions than I could carry on my horse. As soon as I +announced my intention of starting, Dio entreated that he might +accompany me. + +"I will keep up wid you, Massa Mike, however fast you may hab to go. +Watch at night when you camp, and will remain by you while I have life, +should you be attacked by Indians or grizzlies. Do let me go?" +exclaimed the faithful fellow. + +"I only hesitated, Dio, lest you might suffer from the weather, should +the winter begin before we can get back," I answered. + +He thanked me when I consented, as much as if I had granted him a great +favour. He at once proposed that, as the winds were already cold, we +should put on our warm clothing, so as to be prepared for snow and +frost, should it overtake us. As his advice was good, I of course +agreed to follow it. + +The next morning we were on foot before daybreak. My father had +authorised me to offer a large fee to the surgeon, and he sent a message +entreating the commandant to allow him to come, and promising to send +him back under a strong escort if necessary. + +Kathleen and Lily were up to get my breakfast and to see us off. + +"May Heaven protect you, my boy, and bring you back in safety with the +doctor," said my father, as he wrung my hand. + +Other farewells were said, and mounted on our favourite horses, with our +rifles and pistols ready to our hands, our buffalo robes and blankets +strapped behind us, and our haversacks filled with provisions and +cooking utensils hung to our saddles, we set off. The increasing light +enabled us to go at a good speed. We had got some distance from home, +when looking round I saw that Boxer was following us. I ordered him to +go back, but though always obedient, after stopping an instant, he came +on again, and as he had volunteered to undergo the fatigues of the +journey, I allowed him to come. As soon as I called him, he rushed +forward, leaping and barking to show his delight, and then fell behind +again, steadily making his way at the heels of our horses. With the +first part of the country we were well acquainted, and as the weather +promised to be fine, we hoped to make a rapid journey. We got over a +good distance during the first day, and camped comfortably in the +sheltered nook of a wood near a stream, where our horses could obtain +plenty of grass. As it was important to husband our provisions, Dio, +who had brought a fishing-line and hooks, fitted up a rod, and was +fortunate enough to catch two fine cat-fish. The cat-fish, although its +name is not attractive, is excellent when cooked. It has, indeed, a +very fine flavour, is firm, white, and very rich. In appearance it is +like a diminutive dolphin. It has double fins in addition to those on +its back, and a long beard-like excrescence hangs from each side of its +mouth. One was more than sufficient for our supper, but Boxer had no +objection to eat the remainder. I was very glad my faithful dog had +come, as he assisted to keep watch, and was not likely to allow any foe +to approach the camp without giving us warning. Having built a lean-to, +we arranged our beds, composed of twigs and leaves, of which there were +abundance on the ground, and with our saddles for pillows and our feet +to the fire, we rolled ourselves up in our blankets, feeling as +comfortable as any people could do on feather beds. I, however, had not +been long sleeping, when I was awakened by hearing Boxer barking +furiously close to my ears. Starting up I saw a huge white animal, with +glaring eyes, staring at us from a respectful distance. Boxer, though a +brave dog, had apparently thought it prudent not to attack the creature +without arousing me to be ready to assist him. Leaping to my feet, I +instinctively seized my rifle, and, remembering the tricks played by +Indians, my first idea was that it was an enemy covered up by a +wolf-skin, trying to inspect our camp, and perhaps to steal our rifles +and other property, should he have an opportunity. I then recollected +that an Indian was much more likely to carry off our horses, and looking +round I saw them feeding quietly at the spot where they had been left. +They could not have seen the wolf, and the wolf could not have seen +them. I was convinced, however, that the animal I had seen was really a +wolf. On observing me move, huge as it was, it began to slink away, +showing that it was alone, and had not the courage to attack a man and a +dog. Though I could have knocked it over with my rifle, I did not think +it worthy of powder and shot, but calling to Dio, I picked up a thick +stick, that had served to poke up the fire, and ran forward. The +creature now took the alarm, and bounded off at full speed, Boxer and I +following close at its heels. The dog, exerting itself to the utmost, +at last made a spring and fixed his teeth in the hind-quarters of the +wolf, somewhat impeding its progress. This enabled me to get up and +deal several hard blows on the creature's head, one of which, given with +more force, or better aim, brought it to the ground, and Dio coming up, +we quickly deprived it of life. The skin, from the size of the animal +and its rare colour, was of some value, but as we could not carry it +with us, we hung it up to the branch of a tree, on the chance of finding +it on our return, merely taking some of the flesh to reward Boxer for +his vigilance and exertions. + +"Dis not good ting to do, Massa Mike," observed Dio, as we returned to +camp; "maybe other wolves come, too many for us, when we sleep, and we +find hard job to get away from them." + +"I don't see why, because we have killed one white wolf, we are more +likely to be attacked by the brown ones," I answered; "had we let it +escape, we might with more reason suppose that it would tell its +fellows." + +Dio shook his head, but he let the subject drop, and once more, on +reaching camp, we went to sleep, trusting to Boxer to call us if +necessary, and as we could not take the wolf-skin, he benefited most by +the adventure. + +The night had been lovely, the stars were still shining brightly +overhead when we awoke. Knowing that it was nearly morning, I proposed +that we should breakfast and ride on. There was daylight sufficient to +enable us to see our way. Boxer, not content with his plentiful supper, +as soon as he saw us moving, started off in the direction of the dead +wolf, and when we were on the point of mounting, reappeared with his +mouth besmeared with blood, showing how he had been employed. From the +way he moved on, I was afraid he had over-eaten himself; he, however, +contrived to keep up with our horses. During the night there had not +been a breath of wind, but as the sun rose, it began to blow fresh from +the east, and soon shifted to the northward, from which quarter a bank +of clouds rising rapidly, formed a dark canopy over the sky. On one +side the sun shone brightly across the prairie, lighting up its vivid +tints of green and brown and yellow, while on the other the whole +country wore a wintry aspect. Every instant the wind became stronger +and stronger, and the cold increased. Unbuckling our buffalo robes, we +put them over our shoulders, drawing down the flaps of our caps to keep +our ears warm. Before long it began to rain, but the rain soon changed +into snow, which came down thicker and thicker, until, in the course of +an hour, the whole face of the country was covered by a sheet of white, +making it difficult to distinguish the marks which had hitherto guided +our course. + +"Dis not pleasant, Massa Mike," observed Dio; "we must push on to a +wood, for if de snow falls as it now does, before many hours de horses +will not be able to travel through it." + +Dio was perfectly right, but the question was whether we could find the +desired wood. From my knowledge of the country, I believed that no +forest existed for many miles, the intermediate space being one +extensive prairie, the very worst description of country to be caught in +by a snow-storm. Still it would not do to pull up where we were, as we +had no means of lighting a fire. We urged on our horses therefore, +trying to keep as direct a course as possible. The snow, however, fell +so thickly, that we could no longer discern objects at any distance. It +was difficult, indeed, to steer a straight course, for the flakes +quickly obliterated the tracks of our horses' hoofs. We could only +judge that we were going right by the wind, which blew on our left +cheeks. That, however, veered about, coming in fitful gusts, and +driving the snow against our eyes with a force that almost blinded us. +Our horses, too, began to grow weary by their efforts to make their way +through the snow, and I feared, after all, that we should have to +dismount, and lead them on by the bridle. Still it would not do to give +in. + +"We must push forward, Dio, and perhaps the snow before long will +cease," I observed. + +"Nebber fear, Massa Mike," answered the faithful black whose teeth were +chattering with the cold; "worse things dan dis happen 'fore now, and we +got safe out of dem." + +I remembered, indeed, my many former providential escapes, and I had not +forgotten that my dear little Lily was praying for us. Still matters +looked worse and worse. The snow gave no sign of ceasing, while the +wind blew more keenly and fiercely than before. The day, too, was +drawing to a close. A night on the prairie under such circumstances +would be truly dreadful. There was no moon, and with the sky obscured, +should the snow continue to fall, we might even possibly become +separated. I urged Dio to keep close to me, and I knew that Boxer would +not fail to do so. We rode on and on, but our steeds went slower and +slower, while the cold had become so intense that I feared we should be +frozen if we continued to ride; I therefore, in the hopes of getting my +blood into quicker circulation, by the exertion of walking, got off, as +did Dio, and we led our horses. I went first, he following close behind +me, and Boxer bringing up the rear. The snow had become so deep, that I +had to lift up my feet at every step, making the exertion excessively +fatiguing. Our horses went on readily enough. As I beat a path, Dio +had somewhat less difficulty than I had. At last he begged that he +might lead the way to relieve me, but this I would not allow. Severe as +was the exercise, I still preferred it to riding. At last, our horses +being somewhat rested, having brushed the snow from our saddles, we +remounted and endeavoured to urge them on at a faster rate than we had +lately been going. The snow suddenly ceased falling. I stood up in my +stirrups to look round, in the hopes of distinguishing a wood in one +direction or another where we might find shelter, but one uniform sheet +of white covered the whole ground as far as the eye could see. Our +great object was to keep in a straight line towards the east, but, as +before, we had only the wind to guide us. Scarcely had we gone a +hundred yards, when the snow again fell as thickly as ever. I felt the +cold creeping over me. Poor Dio I knew must be suffering even more than +I was, but not a word of complaint did he utter. + +"Long lane, massa, dat hab no turnin'!" he cried out, trying to laugh. +"Perhaps 'fore long we come to de wood where plenty of sticks, and we +light fire, build hut, an' de horses find grass, an' we sit down warm +and comfortable." + +"I shall be very thankful if we do," I answered; "but it has become +terribly dark. It will be a difficult matter to see a wood, even should +we get near one." + +"Yes, Massa Mike, but de hosses find it out, even it we don't," answered +Dio in a cheery tone; "what we best do is to let dem take dare own way; +dey know what the wood is, dough we no see him." + +I followed Dio's advice, but our horses showed no inclination to turn +either to the right hand or to the left, but ploughed on through the +snow, as though unwilling to remain exposed to it as we were; I took out +my watch, but could scarcely see the hands, though I managed to make out +that it was about five o'clock, and that the sun must have set; indeed, +the rapidly increasing darkness assured me that in a short time night +would overtake us. I soon could only barely distinguish the outline of +my horse's head against the white ground. I frequently spoke to Dio, +for fear any accident should make him drop behind, when he might have a +difficulty in finding me again. + +"Do not lose sight of my horse's tail, whatever you do," I shouted out. + +Dio promised to keep me in sight, but that was not so easy, though +probably his horse would from instinct keep close behind mine. At last +I could scarcely see my own hand when I held it up, and my horse's ears +were totally invisible. I had heard of travellers crossing the open +prairie perishing in a snow-storm, and I began to fear that such might +be our fate, but then I recollected Lily and my little sister. They +were praying for us, and I took courage. Several times Dio and I got +off to warm ourselves, but as I found on the whole that we made slower +progress on foot than on horseback, we again remounted. I have since +wondered how we could have endured the chilling breath of that piercing +wind for so many hours. On and on we went, the time appeared longer +indeed than it really was, but we had no means of calculating how it +went by. Dio continued talking, both to assure me that he was close +behind, and to keep up my spirits, though the idea of giving in as long +as we and our horses had strength to move, never occurred to me. At +length it seemed to me that my horse was verging to one side, as I felt +the wind blowing in my teeth, more directly than it had hitherto done, +then, after some time longer, a low murmuring sound reached my ears. It +was, I fancied, the soughing of the wind among the branches of tall +trees. Still I could see no object ahead. Next there came a lull, but +the snow did not decrease. Presently I made out what seemed like a +large column close to me, on the right hand side, then I saw another on +the left. They were the trunks of trees, and from the irregular way the +snow flakes fell, I was sure that we had gained the confines of the +wood. + +"We all right now, Massa Mike," sang out Dio; "dis is de wood: we get +off and build a hut under some of dese trees." + +On dismounting, as Dio proposed, I found that the snow was scarcely an +inch deep. By creeping about we discovered a clump of trees, under the +lee of which but little snow had rested. We could feel that there was +grass, and were consequently sure that our horses would not stray from +the spot. We therefore took off the saddles and saddle-bags, and, +having put on their halters instead of their bridles, left them to feed, +while we broke off, from the lower branches and bushes, a sufficient +amount of dead wood to kindle a fire. It was somewhat doubtful, +however, whether the wind would allow us to light it, or if we succeeded +in doing so, whether it would scatter the sparks about, and perhaps +ignite some of the underwood, so as to set the whole forest in a blaze. +Against such a catastrophe as this we had especially to guard. The idea +also occurred to me that possibly some old bear might have taken up its +winter-quarters in the hollow trunk of one of the trees, but I was +satisfied from Boxer's quiet behaviour that such was not likely to be +the case; he followed close at my heels wherever I went, and I knew that +he would spring forward, should any savage animal be near, to do battle +in my defence. Dio and I kept talking the whole time, that we might not +run the risk of being separated. As I was groping about, I observed a +luminous appearance, somewhat like the embers of a fire, though of a +paler hue. It was a mass of touchwood in the hollow of a tree. I put +my hand in and broke off a lump. Though it would not afford flame +itself, it would enable us to kindle a blaze. Close below it I +discovered a quantity of dry leaves, and we now had the means of making +what we so much required, a fire to warm our benumbed limbs. No hunter +in the prairies is ever without a flint and steel, and we soon had a +cheerful fire, burning away between the roots of a thick tree, round +which we crouched with our buffalo robes over our shoulders, Boxer +joining us to enjoy the warmth. We had had no food since the morning, +and as we began to grow warm our hunger also increased. + +"Where are the saddle-bags?" I asked, thinking they were close at hand. + +"I put dem down whar' we unsaddled the horses--I go get dem," said Dio. +Jumping up he speedily returned with them, bringing also the saucepan +and tin mugs, with a water-bottle which was still quite full, but he +left the saddles, where they had been first placed on the ground. Our +hunger made us immediately apply to the contents of the saddle-bags, +while we put on our saucepan to brew some tea, which served more quickly +than anything else to restore warmth to our bodies. Poor Boxer, +however, came off but badly, as we could only afford to give him a small +portion of the bacon and bread, being disappointed of the game we hoped +to shoot to feed him. As to building a hut, besides the difficulty of +obtaining materials, both Dio and I were so fatigued, that once having +sat down we felt no inclination to move about more than was necessary. +All we could do, indeed, was to collect a further supply of wood to keep +up our fire. On looking at my watch I found that it wanted scarcely +three hours to morning. I felt by this time an overpowering inclination +to sleep, and Dio, I saw by the way he uttered his words, was affected +in the same manner. As far as we could judge the snow continued to come +down as heavily as before, but as we were protected by the thick +overhanging limbs of the trees, very little fell on us. We could hear +our horses cropping the grass, where we had tethered them, and we hoped +they would obtain sufficient to enable them to continue the journey the +next day. To keep awake any longer I found was impossible, so, drawing +my blanket tightly round me, I lay down with my feet towards the fire, +as near as I could venture to place them without fear of being burned. +Dio was already asleep, and I dropped off immediately afterwards. I do +not know how long it was after I had closed my eyes, when I became +conscious that Boxer was crawling close to me, licking my face, +trembling and whining in a peculiar manner. I was, however, so heavy +with sleep, that I did not comprehend for some time the cause of this. +Finding that he could not rouse me, he rushed across to Dio, whose voice +I soon heard. + +"Some ting de matter, Massa Mike. Wake up, wake up. Boxer know dat +red-skin not far off." + +Boxer again came back to me and gave a pull at my blanket, which +effectually awakened me. + +"Red-skins!" I cried out, sitting up and listening. "I can hear +nothing." + +"Boxer does dough," answered Dio. + +The fire had burnt low, a few glowing embers alone remained, +insufficient to cast a light to any distance, I sprang up, intending to +put some more wood on to kindle a blaze, when the sound of horses' feet +reached my ears. "Our animals have got loose at all events, and if we +are not quick about it, we shall have a hard job to recover them," I +exclaimed. + +Without a moment's delay I dashed forward in the direction in which we +had left the horses tethered, followed by Dio. They were both gone. If +they had pulled up the tether-pegs, and we were under a mistake in +supposing that Indians had carried them off, we might easily catch them +in the morning. Should we follow them now, we might run the risk of +losing ourselves, and indeed it was too dark to see their tracks in the +snow; still, hoping that we might come up with them before we lost sight +of our fire, we went on, until Dio stumbled over the trunk of a fallen +tree, and I, knocking my head against a bough, was almost stunned. I +heard Dio cry out, but I was too much hurt to reply. Boxer was close at +my heels; he uttered a bark which brought the black to my assistance. +In less than a minute I recovered. + +"We must go back to the fire," I said, "for we shall be frozen if we +remain long away from it." + +Just at that moment, looking in the direction of our camp, I saw--unless +I was deceived--two figures, on which a flickering flame cast an +uncertain light, pass by on the other side of the fire. The alarming +thought occurred to me, that we had come away without our rifles, and +that, should the persons I fancied I had seen prove to be enemies, we +were entirely in their power. On looking again, I could see no one. I +told Dio, but he had not seen the figures. My first impulse was to rush +forward, to ascertain if our rifles had been taken; then I thought, if +hostile Indians are on the watch, they will shoot us down as soon as we +appear within the light of the fire. + +"It will be more prudent to ascertain whether any enemies are near," I +whispered to Dio; "we will creep up, keeping as close as possible to the +trunks of the trees, until we get nearer the fire, and learn what has +happened." + +We did as I proposed, Boxer keeping close to my heels. This was +somewhat suspicious, as it showed that he, at all events, believed that +Indians were not far off, he sharing the dislike of all white men's dogs +to the red-skins. We managed to creep up to within a short distance of +our camp, without, as we supposed, exposing ourselves to view. When we +looked round from behind the trunk of a tree which we had gained, we +could see no one. + +"After all I believe that my fancy has deceived me," I whispered to my +companion; "probably the horses have only gone a short distance, to find +more grass. We may as well go back and sleep quietly until morning." + +We accordingly, without hesitation, returned to the camp. The first +thing I did was to look about for the rifles; what was my dismay not to +find them where I felt sure they had been left. Our saddle-bags, too, +were gone. We walked round and round the fire, to be certain that we +were not mistaken, but we could discover neither the one nor the other. +We were now convinced that Indians must have visited our camp during our +absence, and that our horses also had been carried off. The only +surprising thing was, that they had not attacked us. Perhaps they only +waited until we were seated before our fire to shoot us; they might +suppose that we had pistols, and were afraid of venturing near while we +were on the watch. My first impulse was to fly and try to escape, but +in what direction should we go? Until daylight, we could not find our +way out of the forest. We should in all probability fall into their +hands. I never before felt my scalp fit so uncomfortably to my head. +The thieves, whoever they were, had, however, left us our blankets, +which perhaps had escaped their observation. To stay where we were, +with the prospect of being shot, would be madness. Snatching up our +blankets, therefore, we secured them over our shoulders, and, followed +by Boxer, endeavoured to make our way through an opening, which as far +as we could calculate, led towards the east. We went on groping our +way, sometimes falling over logs, but managing again to recover our +feet. It was better to keep moving than to sit down. Although the cold +in the forest was much less than in the open prairie, it was still very +severe, and we might very easily be frozen to death. Our chief +consolation was, that day would soon return, and that we might at all +events be able to see our way. We were still a long distance from the +fort, and even should we ultimately reach it, the delay of sending +medical assistance to my dear mother might be of serious consequence. +Daylight at last returned, but not a break in the sky indicated that the +snow was about to cease. It was important to keep under the shelter of +the trees as long as we could. Should we venture after we got out of +the forest to cross the open prairie without weapons to defend ourselves +against enemies, or any means of obtaining food? Dio and I decided that +it must be done at all risks; that on we would go as long as our legs +would carry us. It was now broad daylight. We were making our way on, +when we came to a stream, which flowing but slowly, had been frozen over +during the night. As I knew the rivers in that locality ran more or +less to the eastward, it would assist in guiding our course, but the +appearance of the ice did not encourage us to use it as a high road. We +settled therefore to keep along the bank, crossing it or cutting off +angles as might appear advisable. + +"Before we go far, I tink we get arms," said Dio; "dat saplin' make good +spear." And taking out his axe, he cut down the young tree, while I +formed a heavy club from a branch of hickory, which had been torn off +apparently by a storm. If we had had time, we might have formed bows +and arrows, but the cold was too great to allow us to do so, until we +had put up a hut in which to work; besides, before they could be +finished, we might starve with hunger. We therefore contented ourselves +with the weapons we had formed, and Dio having scraped one end of his +pole into a sharp point, we continued our journey. + +We had not gone far, when we discovered a hollow tree, and as we were +very weary, besides being hungry, after examining it, to ascertain that +it was unoccupied, we crawled in. We had not much fear of being +attacked by the Indians, who, although they certainly could have +followed our trail, would, we concluded, have made us prisoners or put +us to death when they had us in their power, should they have been so +disposed. The tribes of red-skins are not all equally blood-thirsty, +some being addicted rather to stealing horses and cattle than to +murdering the whites; and we had no doubt that such were the people who +had carried off our horses and rifles. We therefore, squatting down in +the confined space of the tree, folded our arms across our breasts, and +immediately dropped off asleep. Weary as I was, my slumbers were +troubled and far from sound. I did not intend to rest more than an hour +at the utmost, as I was afraid of wasting too much precious time. +Before that period had elapsed, I opened my eyes and awoke Dio. Looking +out, I found that the snow had ceased. I could nowhere see Boxer. I +called to him again and again, but he did not come. + +"He gone to de hunt for himself," observed Dio; "perhaps he come back +with young hare or 'possum." + +We waited a few minutes. As I knew that Boxer would follow up the trail +as well as any Indian could do, I did not think it necessary to wait for +him. Scarcely had we recommenced our journey, when the well-known howl +of a wolf reached my ears, repeated by several other brutes of the same +species. Had we possessed our rifles, we should not have been afraid of +a hundred of them, but, unarmed as we were, it would be difficult to +defend ourselves against them, should they follow us. To retreat to the +hollow tree would be useless, for although we might keep them at bay, +should they besiege us, we might starve before we could regain our +liberty. We therefore continued our course, hoping that they would not +scent us out. The sounds of barking and yelping increased. It made me +fear that Boxer had fallen into their power; if so, he would long ere +this have been torn to pieces, and there would be no use in going to his +rescue. We were close to the stream, when, on looking round, I saw an +animal coming out of the wood on the opposite side. At first I thought +it was my faithful dog, but a second glance showed me that it was a +wolf--a savage looking brute it was too. The sight of one wolf however, +did not give us the slightest alarm, and even if I had had my rifle in +my hand, I would not have shot it. When we stopped, the wolf stopped +and looked at us, but as soon as we went on again, I saw that it was +following, though at a respectful distance. + +"Nebber fear; if he come near, I gib him poke with my spear," said Dio; +so on again we went. + +The howls which we had before heard, again broke out, and the brutes +appeared to be coming nearer. + +"We must keep ahead of them at all events, Dio," I observed; "if we +cross the river, they are less likely to follow. Let us push on!" + +We reached the ice, which appearing firm, we ventured on it. As it bore +our weight better than we expected, we could now run on at a quick pace. +I led, Dio following close behind me. + +"Go on, massa! go on!" I heard him sing out continually. + +I kept verging towards the opposite side of the stream, where the ground +was more open, and I hoped that we should make better progress. +Presently I heard Dio utter an exclamation, and looking round, I saw a +wolf close at his heels, while several more were following at a short +distance. Should the brute once attack us, it would be the signal for +the others to set on us. + +On the impulse of the moment, not thinking of what he was about, Dio +took off his cap and threw it at the brute, which stopped, and quickly +tearing it to pieces, came rushing on faster than before. Dio, now +again turning round, pole in hand, stood ready for the attack, the next +instant he plunged it into the wolf's side, pinning the creature to the +ice. Even then, so violent were its struggles, that it would have +broken away, had I not come up and finished it with a blow of my club. + +"On now, massa! on!" cried Dio; "dey rest stop an' eat their friend, and +we get 'way." + +This was obvious enough, and we set off running as fast as we could over +the ice. Several loud cracks, however, warned us that it would be +prudent to gain the shore as soon as possible, although we might not +make our way so fast over it as we had been doing on the ice. As I +glanced over my shoulder, I saw that the pack had attacked their +comrade, and were busily employed in devouring his carcase. They would +not, however, take long in doing that, and we might soon expect to have +them at our heels. Hungry as we were, our strength was not exhausted, +and we resolved not to give in while life remained. We might hope to +reach some place where we could defend ourselves until the savage pack +had grown weary of besieging it. We had gained a considerable distance, +and were almost out of hearing of the yelping and barking, when again +those horrid sounds began to draw near. The brutes had eaten up their +companion, and were once more on our trail. How many miles we had run I +could not tell, when we saw that the pack were rapidly gaining upon us, +and that we should have to stop and fight for our lives. As I was +expecting every instant that we should have to turn round and commence +the battle, I saw a dark object on the ground, and at the same moment I +heard a bark, uttered certainly not by a wolf. Presently a dog came +rushing towards us whom I at once recognised as Boxer, holding a huge +piece of meat in his mouth. Regardless of the wolves, he leapt up as if +to offer it to us. A short distance off lay a buffalo bull, which +probably had been shot by some hunter, and had there fallen down and +died. Taking the meat, I threw it towards the wolves, then Dio, Boxer, +and I continued our flight, passing close to the bull. We were saved +from the imminent danger which had threatened us, for the wolves would +certainly be delayed long enough over the carcase to enable us to make +good our escape. I was rushing on, when Dio cried out-- + +"Stop, massa, I git out some meat for our supper." + +With his axe he quickly cut off a huge piece of the flesh. The morsel I +had thrown to the wolves, had delayed them longer than I might have +supposed. The brutes having stopped to quarrel over it, had furiously +attacked each other, so that we were already a considerable distance +beyond the buffalo before they reached it. So completely did it occupy +their attention, that they no longer thought of us, and at length, when +we from a distance looked back, we could see a tossing, moving mass of +animals, their barks and yelps sounding faintly in our ears. Hungry as +we were, I thought it prudent not to stop until we could reach some +sheltered place where we could light a fire, and at the same time, +defend ourselves, should any of the pack follow us. We had been saved +from one danger, we might hope to escape others. The wind had fallen, +though it still blew from the north, and the cold was severe. The +exercise, however, kept us warm. We were again in open ground, but we +could see the wood ahead, bordering the stream, an angle of which we had +cut off. Continuing on, we once more gained the wood, and soon fixed on +a spot for camping. Near it was a tree, the branches of which we could +reach, so that should the wolves again come near us, we might climb up +out of their reach. Collecting sticks, we soon had a fire lighted, and +a part of our meat spitted and roasting before it. As we had lost our +buffalo robes, it was absolutely necessary to form some sort of shelter, +and while our supper was cooking, we began to collect materials for +forming it. Well accustomed to such work, we did not take long about +it. The necessary stakes were cut, the branches and pieces of bark +collected, and by the time Dio pronounced the meat "done," we had our +hut up, resting against the trunk of a tree. Had we not been so busily +employed, we could not have waited so long without food. Tough as was +the meat, it greatly restored our strength, while we quenched our thirst +with handfuls of snow. I had not before felt sleepy, but scarcely had I +swallowed the food, than I became almost overpowered by drowsiness, and +had just sense enough to crawl into the hut, when I dropped off to +sleep. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +SUFFERINGS FROM COLD--KINDNESS OF DIO--A WEARY MARCH--TRAILS OF BUFFALO +AND DEER--MORE SNOW--WE REACH A WOOD WHERE WE CAMP--INDIANS--DIO +SCOUTS--POSSIBILITY OF BEING SEPARATED--I CHARGE THE BLACK WITH MY +FATHER'S MESSAGE--WE STEAL NEAR THE INDIANS' CAMP--RECOVER OUR HORSES-- +THE FLIGHT AND PURSUIT--DIO AND I PART COMPANY--JACK PUT ON HIS METTLE-- +ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE--MY HORSE FAILS ME--A LAST EFFORT TO ESCAPE-- +RESCUED--THE MYSTERIOUS HUNTER--A BLANK IN MY EXISTENCE--I RECOGNISE MY +PRESERVER--A STRANGE DISCOVERY--LILY'S FATHER FOUND--UNCLE MICHAEL-- +REGAINING HEALTH AND STRENGTH--SPRING--RETURN TO SMILING VALLEY--MEETING +OF THE BROTHERS--CONCLUSION. + +Accustomed as I was to a life in the wilds, to endure the extremes of +heat and cold, and what most persons look upon as hardships; I am sure +that I should have perished with cold had it not been for my faithful +companions Dio and Boxer. The dog, I will not say from instinct, +because I believe, that he was influenced by a higher power, stretched +himself upon me, giving me the warmth, of his body, while Dio chafed my +feet, and then wrapped them up in a part of his own blanket, while he +sat up, having raked the fire as near as he could venture to bring it. +During the whole night I am convinced that he did not once drop asleep, +at all events for more than a few minutes at a time. After several +hours I awoke, feeling thoroughly warm. I was somewhat astonished at +the heavy weight above me, and it was not until I put out my hand and +felt Boxer, that I was aware how I had been cared for. By the light of +the fire, which was still burning brightly, I saw Dio seated at the +entrance of the hut. I told him how much refreshed I felt, but I had +great difficulty in persuading him to crawl in and take the rest he so +much required. Having put on my boots, I sat up and took his place, I +was thus able to judge of the suffering he had endured for my sake, for +even with my blanket round me, and a fire near my feet, I could scarcely +bear it: I was very thankful when in less than an hour I saw daylight +appear. Without delay I made up the fire and spitted some more of our +buffalo meat to roast, that we might take breakfast before starting. I +waited until the meat was cooked before arousing Dio. + +"Go on, massa," he exclaimed, starting up, "I wonder whether we get to +the fort 'fore night." + +"I am afraid not," I answered; "on horseback, in fine weather, we might +have reached it in five days, but we have performed scarcely half the +distance. Never mind, we have got meat for one day more, and we may +trap an opossum or beaver, or perhaps Boxer may catch us something." + +As soon as we had breakfasted, and bestowed a small portion of our meat +on Boxer, Dio shouldering his spear, and I my club, we began our march. +As the sun rose, the clouds cleared away, and we knew that we were +proceeding more or less in the direction of the fort. Still I could not +tell how much out of our proper course we had gone during the last two +days, and we might possibly pass the fort, either to the north or south, +without seeing it. Had the ground been free from snow, I should have +hoped, without much difficulty, to have struck the trail running east +and west, followed by emigrants; but none were likely to have passed +since the snow had fallen, and the country was generally so level that +there were no land-marks to steer for; all we could do, therefore, was +to push on, and keep up our spirits. Had I not been anxious about my +mother, I should have cared much less for the delay; but as it was, I +determined that no difficulties or dangers should stop us. As we went +on, I looked out eagerly for marks of footsteps; of either men or +horses, but the same uniform sheet of white appeared on every side, +though our own feet left their impression more clearly than we desired +on the snow, showing that two men and a dog had passed that way. Should +any Indians come across our trail, knowing that they could obtain an +easy victory, they would too probably follow us up. At length I saw the +snow disturbed by a long line running at right angles to our course. On +reaching it, I at once saw that the trail was that of a herd of buffalo +moving southward, but none of the animals were in sight, though from the +marks I calculated that they could only just before have passed. Soon +after we met with the tracks of several deer, but they too had +disappeared. The country ahead had a more hilly aspect, and I observed +that the snow had melted from the southern sides of the slopes. It was +of the greatest importance that we should reach another wood before +nightfall, and hoping to find one on the other side of the range, we +hurried on. I became conscious of my decrease of strength by finding a +greater difficulty than usual in climbing the slopes, and on looking at +Dio, I found that he too was toiling on with less activity than was his +wont. We had only enough meat for one more meal for ourselves and dog, +and I saw that it would be necessary, for the sake of our future +progress, to bring our day's journey to an end as soon as possible. +There was another reason for this. As we looked northward, we saw the +clouds again gathering in the sky; and the wind, shifting round to that +quarter, quickly drove them towards us, blowing as keenly as before. +Once more the snow began to fall. When I turned round I observed how +quickly it obliterated over footsteps. I had carefully noted the +direction of the wood which commenced at the foot of the hill, and we +therefore reached it without difficulty. Making our way onwards, we +soon selected a spot for camping, and although it was still early in the +afternoon, I resolved to remain there, at all events, until the next +morning. While looking about for fire-wood we discovered a large hollow +tree, and as we had plenty of time, we cleaned it out, so that it would +serve as a comfortable abode for the night. We collected also a +quantity of dry leaves, with which we could cover ourselves up, should +the cold become as intense as on the previous night. We also searched +about for some slabs of bark, to line the rougher parts and to close up +the aperture. While I was arranging our intended abode for the night, +Dio, followed by Boxer, went off to catch, if he could, some small +animal or bird which he might kill for our supper; I had lost sight of +him, but felt very sure that he and his companion could find their way +back. Having made up the fire, I was on the point of lighting it, when +Dio appeared running towards me. + +"Oh! Massa Mike!" he exclaimed, almost breathless, "I see de Indians on +top ob de hill!" + +The snow, which blew in their faces, had, however, prevented them from +seeing him. What should we do? + +"Fortunately, as the falling snow will have filled up our trail, they +will not know we are here," I observed; "the best thing we can do is to +creep into our hollow tree and remain quiet; perhaps they will choose +some other part of the forest to camp in, and if so, they will not +discover us. Were we now to try and escape through the forest, they +would nearly to a certainty fall on our trail and follow us up, whereas +we may hope that they will not enter it to camp, until they have got +further to the eastward; if, however, they do camp close to us, our only +safe course will be to walk boldly in among them, and tell them that we +wish to be friends, and that we will reward them for any assistance they +may give us." + +"Den, massa, we hide in de tree," said Dio. + +Had the snow not been falling, I knew that, should they pass within +fifty yards, they would discover our footsteps; but even in the thickest +part of the forest, it so quickly covered the ground, that I hoped they +might not see our trail. + +Having scattered the sticks we had collected for our fire, we clambered +into the hollow tree, followed by Boxer, and drew in after us the pieces +of bark, one of which was of sufficient size to block up the whole of +the entrance. We kept two small apertures, through which Dio and I +could look on the proceedings of the red-skins. I was of course well +aware that should the eyes of any of the party fall on the tree, our +place of concealment would immediately be discovered, as they would at +once detect a difference in the bark. The opening was towards the +south, and enabled us to command a view for a considerable distance +through the trees, to the very edge of the forest. We had not long +taken our posts, when a body of Indians came in sight, some on +horseback, others on foot. There were no women among them. Even at +that distance, we could see that their faces were painted, and their +heads bedecked with feathers, showing that they were out on the +war-path. As we watched, we felt greatly relieved to find that they +kept outside the forest, apparently not intending to enter it, though +they rode as much as possible under the trees, for the sake of the +shelter they afforded. At the rear of the line came two warriors, +mounted, I knew, from the appearance of their saddles and the look of +the animals, on our horses. I thought it probable, however, that they +were not the thieves, but had stolen them from another party, because, +being on the war-path, I felt confident that they would have taken our +scalps as well as our property. + +For fear that any stragglers might be following and see us, we remained +carefully shut up in the hollow tree, until we believed that they had +got to a distance. Still it would be unsafe to light a fire, in case +they should encamp even at a mile distance, for they would observe the +smoke, although they might not see the glare of the fire. + +Dio at last begged that I would allow him to go and try to find out +where they were, promising to take very good care not to be caught. I +would rather have gone myself, but he entreated me to remain with Boxer. +Should we find that they had gone on, we might then safely light our +fire, and cook the remainder of our buffalo meat, which we should +otherwise be compelled to eat raw. To keep myself warm, I climbed into +the tree, and closed the entrance, with Boxer by my side. Anxious as I +felt, I before long fell asleep. + +I was awakened by Dio putting in his head. + +"Dey camp too near to let us light fire," he said, "but nebber mind, dey +turn de horses loose, and our two mustangs come dis way." + +"The red-skins don't think we are near them, that's very clear," I +answered. "We will try to recover our own horses, though I am afraid it +will be more difficult to get back our saddles and saddle-bags, or our +rifles. Our horses know us, and will come at our call, even though they +may be hobbled. If we can manage to get them, we must ride directly for +the fort. Now, Dio, it is possible that we may be separated, and if so, +I charge you to deliver the message I received from my father, to +entreat that the surgeon may be sent off immediately. If there is no +one else to accompany him, you must go, should I not have arrived. I +only say this in case of accident. We will do our best to keep +together, but still we may fail to do so. Do not suppose, however, +though I may not appear, that I am lost; I can picture a dozen events +occurring, which may prevent me from soon reaching the fort, though I +may do so at last. You understand me, Dio? Take care also not to alarm +the family, but repeat to them what I say to you. You will promise me?" + +"Yes, Massa Mike," answered Dio, looking me earnestly in the face; "but +it break dis niggar's heart, if you nebber come home." + +"Have no fears on that score," I answered, wishing to encourage him. +"If you manage to catch one of the horses and I should fail, I repeat +again, that it is of the greatest consequence that you should push on to +the fort; of course we may get there together, or you may lose your way, +or I may get there first. Do you understand my object?" + +"Yes, yes, massa; an' I promise to try and get to de fort, and to take +de doctor to Missie Loraine," answered the faithful Black, in a +melancholy tone, showing that though ready to follow out my injunctions, +he grieved at the thoughts of being separated from me, when perhaps I +might be caught and killed by the Indians. + +"But, Massa Mike, we try and keep togedder, won't we?" he added. + +"Of course, Dio, both for your sake and my own, you may depend upon +that; I give you these instructions only on the chance of our being +separated." + +Dio clambered inside, and closing the entrance, we sat down, with Boxer +at our feet, thus enjoying more warmth than we should otherwise have +done. + +We passed the time in chewing pieces of the raw buffalo meat, which, +tough as it was, served to keep up our strength. Boxer came in for a +larger share than he would have obtained probably, had it been cooked. + +We might, of course, have avoided the Indians and continued our journey +during the night, but, should no more snow fall, we felt sure that they +would discover our trail, and follow us up, whereas, could we regain our +horses, we might, before daylight, get to such a distance from them, +that they would be unable to overtake us. The other alternative was to +stay in our place of concealment, until they had taken their departure, +but then our food was exhausted, and as they might possibly remain two +or three days, we should be starved. We decided, therefore, that our +best plan was to try and recover our horses, as we had proposed. + +We waited until darkness came down on the earth, and then, getting out +of our hiding-place, stole cautiously towards the Indian camp. We could +proceed but very slowly, as we had to make our way among fallen logs, +between the trunks of trees, and round clumps of bushes, too thick to +penetrate. We stopped also frequently to listen for any sounds which +might show us that we had got near the horses. Dio had been enabled to +ascertain on which side of the camp they had been turned loose. Boxer +kept close at our heels, apparently understanding the danger of our +expedition. At length a glare on the leafless boughs of the trees some +way ahead showed us that we were approaching the camp. On we crept; +once more we stopped to listen. Although I could not distinguish what +was said, I was satisfied, from the loud and continuous tones, that one +of the chiefs was addressing his braves, perhaps exciting them to attack +the fort of the pale-faces. The rest of the people kept a perfect +silence while he spoke. I knew therefore that their attention would be +absorbed, and that we consequently should have a better chance of +catching the horses unobserved, than had the people been moving about +and engaged in the usual occupations of a camp. Still I did not forget +that they were habitually on their guard, and might have sentries on the +watch outside the camp. We had now to consider in which direction we +should most probably find the horses. We might have to make almost a +circuit of the camp. I resolved to go to the right, where, as the +forest was more open than on the other side, there would be a greater +probability of the animals finding grass. I touched Dio's arm, and we +moved away in that direction. We had already got to the south of the +camp, when we came to the edge of a glade, in which we could distinguish +several horses feeding. Unfortunately, however, but few trees +intervened between them and the fire, and, should we alarm them, the +quick eyes of the Indians would probably observe their movements. It +was impossible in the dark to distinguish our own animals from the +others. We waited, in the hope that they might come near us, and, +recognising our voices, allow us to mount them; whereas, the Indians' +horses, knowing us to be strangers, would keep at a distance. Still it +was important not to lose time. The chief might bring his speech to an +end, and there would be a greater chance of our being discovered. To my +satisfaction I saw that the heads of some of the animals were directed +towards us, and, as they turned up the snow to get at the grass beneath, +they came nearer and nearer. I could hear my heart beat with eagerness. +Presently one of them stopped feeding, and, looking about, gave a low +whinny, then shuffled forward. Directly afterwards another, a little +way behind, did the same, and I felt assured that they were our own +horses, which had scented us out. + +"You catch the first, I'll look after the other," I whispered to Dio; +"steer for that star appearing above the trees, it will at all events +take us clear of the forest." + +The first horse, from a white patch on his shoulder, I recognised as +Dio's, and knew that it would readily consent to his mounting. I had +little doubt that the other was mine. We had our knives ready to cut +the hobbles, the work of a moment. If we could once mount we should get +a good start, as the Indians would be delayed in catching their steeds +and setting their legs at liberty. + +"Now is your time," I said to Dio. + +We both crept forward on our hands and knees, so that we might perform +the first necessary operation of cutting the thongs which secured our +horses' legs, before showing ourselves. I saw Dio reach his horse,--in +an instant his sharp knife had set its legs free; following my +directions, he mounted. Mine gave another whinny, and came up to me. +The Indians must have heard the sound, for I saw them start, and several +who had been seated round the camp-fire sprang to their feet. + +"On, Dio, on; I'll follow you in an instant," I cried out, as I worked +away with my knife; but it was blunter than usual, and I had to make +several hacks before I could cut through the tough hide. Ere I had done +so, Dio, urging on his animal, was already at a considerable distance. +Whether or not the Indians had discovered him, I could not tell; but +they must have seen me, for as I rose to my feet, about to mount, +leaving their camp-fire, they came rushing forward. I sprang on to my +horse's back, and pressing my knees into his side, patted him on the +neck. "Now, Jack," I cried, "show what you're made of. Don't let those +fellows catch us." + +The horse, knowing my voice, obeying as if he had understood what I +said, galloped forward. I looked ahead, but could nowhere see Dio. I +believed that my animal would follow the course of the other horse. I +was very certain that in a few moments I should have the whole pack of +Indians at my heels. If I could lead them on one side or the other, I +might give Dio a better chance of escaping. Brave Boxer kept close to +me. I stooped to avoid the boughs under which my horse carried me. He +seemed as eager to get away from the Indians as I was. I could hear +them shouting and shrieking as they ran to catch their horses. Several +arrows whistled over my head, or fell beside me, but they were afraid of +shooting low, for fear of wounding their own horses, which were between +me and them. In another minute, however, I was out of their sight among +the trees. Although it was night, there was sufficient light, I feared, +to enable them to discover my trail. Not that I thought much about that +at the time, or anything else but the idea of escaping. My horse made +too much noise as he galloped over the crisp ground, to allow me to hear +whether they had yet mounted, and the only sounds from behind me which +reached my ears were their shouts. Presently, however, these ceased, +and I then knew that they were pursuing either Dio or me. I had had, +however, a fair start. My hope rose high that I should be able to keep +ahead of my pursuers. It was important, however, to get out of the wood +as soon as possible, or they would, by going faster over the ground, +make their way round, and be ready to meet me as I emerged from it. A +narrow glade opened out before me, leading in the direction I wished to +take; it was formed either by deer or buffalo, who, from constantly +following the same tracks, are the chief road-makers of the primeval +forests. I dashed along it; fortunately neither fallen trunks nor +stumps impeding my progress. As may be supposed, I looked out eagerly +for Dio, and I thought it very possible that I might fall in with him, +but no signs could I discover of his having passed that way, as the snow +lay unbroken along the whole path. I dared not turn my head to +ascertain whether the Indians had yet entered the opening. I was +encouraged, however by believing that they were not better acquainted +with the country than I was, and that they would have no advantage over +me in that respect. + +It was no easy matter to stick on to the bare back of my horse, and had +he not gone steadily forward, I could scarcely have done so. On and on +I went; if I could continue my course until daylight, I hoped that I +might get into the neighbourhood of the fort, and perhaps meet with some +of the garrison out hunting deer or buffalo. It was a question, +however, whether my horse would hold out so long. At present, he was +behaving beautifully, and showing no signs of flagging. My earnest +prayer was that Dio's would behave as well. As long as the glade was +level I had little doubt about his keeping up the same pace, but should +it come uneven, with rocks to pass over, or hills to climb, I feared +that he might give in. How many miles I had gone over, I could not +tell. The open prairie was at length reached; no Indians had appeared. +Some way farther on I caught sight of a rocky height against the deep +blue sky, running directly across my course. If there was no path +through it, I must surmount it, and with my tired steed, this would +cause delay, and probably, should the Indians be pursuing, they would +catch me up. The task, however, had to be accomplished; I rode forward; +it was farther off than I expected, but at length I reached it. I soon +found from the way my poor horse went, that I must dismount. + +Taking him by the halter, which had served as my bridle, I began to +climb up over the uneven ground. On gaining the top, I took one glance +round and made out some dark objects moving over the plain towards me. +A shout reached my ears; I had been seen; but my pursuers would have to +climb up as I had done, and could I reach the bottom in safety I should +gain on them. I was well aware that the descent was more difficult and +dangerous than the ascent. On I went: to my dismay I came to the edge +of a precipice; it was of no great depth, but both my horse and I might +break our legs should we attempt to leap it, though Boxer might have +performed the operation without danger. I rode along, hoping to find a +more practicable path; I had, however, to ascend some distance, and then +continue along the side of the hill, before the slope was sufficiently +gradual to permit me again to descend. I was aware that I had spent +much precious time in searching for a way down, and that, should I be +delayed much longer, my enemies would be upon me. I felt like a person +in a dreadful dream. I had got but a short distance down, when I saw +that, even although I was leading my horse, there would be a great risk +of our being rolled over. Still I hurried on, when again a precipice +yawned before me. Its depth I could not distinguish. Once more I led +my horse upwards, and then continued, as before, along the side of the +hill. At length I came to a slope, which, although rough, seemed +practicable. I might even ride down it if necessary, but without a +saddle there was the danger of slipping over the horse's neck. Boxer, +as if satisfied that we could get down, sprang forward. I followed, my +tired steed slipping down on his haunches. I had got about half-way to +the bottom, when I heard a shout, and for a moment looking round, I +caught sight of the figures of several Indians standing on the brow of +the hill, their outlines clearly marked against the sky. The next +instant a flight of arrows came flying after me. I heard them strike +the rocks behind, and on either side. Others followed, and I felt that +I was wounded; I hoped, however, but slightly. It would be better to be +dashed to pieces than be made a captive, or a target; so, springing on +my horse's back, I urged him down the steep descent. Gathering up his +legs, he dashed forward, while I leant back as much as possible, to +throw the weight off his shoulders. How I reached the bottom I could +scarcely tell. By this time the dawn had broken, and the daylight was +rapidly increasing. It enabled the Indians to see me more clearly, and +I knew that they would soon be close at my heels. My poor horse, too, +was becoming weaker and weaker, although, as he heard my voice, he +endeavoured to spring forward. The ground was far more uneven than any +I had passed over on either side of the hill. My pursuers' horses, +however, were probably suffering as much as mine was, but, then, should +theirs fail them, they might dismount and follow me on foot. +Notwithstanding this, I had no thought of giving in, and determined, +should my horse fall, that I would try the speed of my legs. I could +run as fast as most Indians, boasting as they do of their swiftness of +foot. Some distance before me appeared a wood, bordering a stream: I +determined to try and gain it, and dismounting, to leave my poor horse +to his fate, when I would make my way along the bank, and then cross the +stream, if it was sufficiently shallow to allow me to ford it, so that +the Indians might possibly lose my trail. The intermediate ground, +however, was very rough. Twice already my horse had stumbled and nearly +come down on his knees. Not having a bit in his mouth, I had no power +to keep him up. In spite of the difficulties to be surmounted, I had +hopes that I was once more distancing my pursuers, when my poor steed +fell. I was thrown over his head but alighted on my feet. My first +impulse was to turn round and help him to rise. As I did so, I saw the +Indians coming on, several of them on horseback, but others on foot. +Although my horse was trembling in every limb, I leaped on his back, and +with indomitable spirit he sprang forward. It was but for a few +minutes; before I could reach the wood he came down again, and I, being +thrown with far more violence than before to the ground, was almost +stunned. I lay for some seconds unable to move. I could hear the +shouts of the Indians, as they thought that they had at length secured +their prey. Boxer barked furiously in return and ran to my horse to try +and make him get up, but the poor animal's strength was exhausted. I, +too, made an attempt to rise. It was with difficulty that I could get +on my feet. I saw at a glance that my horse could no longer avail me. +The Indians were advancing with their scalping-knives in their hands; in +another minute, unless I could escape, I should be in their power. Life +was sweet, notwithstanding the pain I suffered from the fall, and from +the wound I had just received. Mustering up my remaining strength, I +turned to fly. In vain, however, were all my efforts; the Indians came +on whooping and shrieking; at every bound they were gaining upon me. +Had I possessed a weapon, I would have fought for my life, but escape by +flight was impossible. Their scalping-knives flashed in the rising sun. +I raised my eyes to take one farewell look, as I supposed, of the blue +sky above me, and patted the head of my faithful dog, who affectionately +licked my hands, conscious of the fearful predicament in which we were +placed, and as if to say, "I am ready to stop and die with you, my +master." Had they chosen it, the Indians might have sent a dozen arrows +into my body, but, although they had their bows in their hands, they +refrained from shooting. At that moment, when all hope seemed lost, I +heard a shout coming from out of the wood behind me, and the words-- + +"Run for it, friend!" + +I did not require a second summons, exerting all my remaining strength, +I turned and hastened in the direction whence the voice proceeded. I +saw two persons with rifles in their hands, one a white man, the other +an Indian. The next instant I fell fainting to the ground. I heard +loud voices, but no shot was fired. The white man was addressing the +Indians, and they replied. I in vain endeavoured to arouse myself, and +in a short time became totally unconscious of what was passing around. + +When my senses returned, I found myself in a roomy wigwam of birch bark, +the floor was lined with fine mats, and there were two skin-covered +couches, besides the one on which I lay. Several weapons, cooking +utensils, and other articles, hung to the supports, while round the +walls were piled up packages of skins. At my side lay Boxer, looking +sleek and fat, as if he had recovered from his fatigue and had been well +cared for. He and I were the only inmates of the hut. Though I talked +to him he could give me no information as to what had happened, or how I +came to be there. It was some time, indeed, before I recollected the +events which had occurred, and I then knew that I was indebted for my +life to the white hunter I had seen just as the Indians were on the +point of capturing me. + +I dozed off once more after this, when I was aroused by the cool air +coming in owing to the curtain in front of the tent being drawn aside as +the hunter entered. After looking at me for a few seconds, and +discovering that I was awake; he said in a kind voice, "I am glad to +find, my young friend, that you have come to yourself. You'll do well +now, I've no doubt, but you have had a tough struggle for life, though +by the way you made your escape from the red-skins I had great hopes +from the first that you would come off the victor." + +"Have I been long here?" I asked. "Pray let me get up; I want to get +to Fort Hamilton, to send the doctor to my mother, who is very ill; and +if he doesn't go, I am afraid she will die." + +"I won't keep you in suspense; the doctor went away the day after you +were brought here, and I sent word by him that you were safe. The brave +black fellow, who managed to reach the fort, after escaping from the +Indians, took the message, but he considered that you were not fit to be +moved, and were better off with me than you would be in the crowded +fort. To tell you the truth, you've been here six weeks or more, and +the chances are that you will remain another six weeks." + +"I have much to thank you for," I answered, "the news you have given me +will restore my strength faster than anything else, and I should feel +still happier if you can tell me that mother benefited by the doctor's +visit." + +"Of that I can assure you, for I way-laid him, and got him to come and +see you. He informed me that she is in a fair way of recovery." + +I reiterated my thanks to my host. It was not until he was seated +before the fire, cooking some venison steaks from a deer he had just +killed, and the flame fell on his countenance, that, examining it, I +recognised the white hunter we had met so long before, on our way to +Smiling Valley. He had, however, greatly changed since then, and had +evidently been leading a wild hunter's life, his dress was of skins, and +except his rifle and hunting traps, and cooking utensils, everything in +the hut appeared to have been of his own manufacture. + +"We have met before," I said, "and I had then to thank you for saving me +and my companions from the Indians. Don't you remember me?" + +"I recollect the circumstance, though you have altered so much, that I +did not recognise you," he answered. He then made inquiries after the +Dominie, and expressed his satisfaction at hearing of our success at +Smiling Valley. "Indeed, I knew that some white people had settled +there from my Indian friend Kluko, who has been for a long time my firm +ally, and frequently assisted me to escape from the red-skins. He will +be here before long, as he visits me frequently." + +I replied that I knew the chief, who had shown his friendly disposition +towards us, and should be happy to meet him. I then inquired whether he +had been eastward since the time of which we were speaking. + +"Once, and for the last time," he answered, a shade of melancholy +passing over his countenance. + +Though afraid that I might pain him if I put further questions, my +curiosity prompted me to inquire what had taken him to the settlements, +since he appeared wedded to his wild life. + +"Your question arouses the recollection of circumstances I have been +endeavouring to forget. I had at one time resolved to abandon my +hunter's life and to return to civilisation. I married and settled at +Ohio, but misfortune overtook me, floods destroyed my crops, and all the +capital I had saved by years of toil was lost. To regain it I resolved +once more to plunge into the wilderness, and set off, leaving my wife +and infant child with her father. I was as successful as I expected, +and having realised a considerable sum from the furs I had obtained, I +returned to the settlement, expecting to find my wife and child with her +family. On reaching it, bitter was my disappointment to learn that my +father-in-law's farm had been destroyed by a fearful fire which raged +over the country, and that he, taking my wife and child, had set off +with some of his neighbours to migrate westward. A report had been +circulated that I had been killed by the Indians, my wife consequently +had left no message for me. Once more I turned my face westward, hoping +to overtake the train, or to find out where the party had located +themselves. In vain I searched for them, but at length had too certain +evidence that the train had been cut off by Indians, and every person +belonging to it massacred." + +"I am afraid in most respects your information was correct," I observed; +and I then told him how on our journey we had come up with a train which +had been destroyed as had the one he spoke of, "though it might not be +the same," I added, "for one person escaped, a little girl, who told us +that her name was Lily." + +"Lily!" exclaimed the hunter, "that was the name of my child. Did she +survive? Where is she?" + +I replied that she had lived with us ever since as my parents' adopted +daughter. "Indeed my father and mother and Uncle Denis love her as much +as they do any one of us," I added. + +"Uncle Denis!" repeated the hunter, and he seemed lost in thought. + +"Young man," he said at length, "what is your name?" + +"Michael Loraine," I answered. + +"And your uncle's surname?" + +I told him. + +"And they are loving and cherishing my Lily?" + +"Yes," I replied; "and there is no being an earth I love so well." + +For some minutes the hunter was silent, but I saw that he was much +agitated. At length he asked, in a low voice, "Have you ever heard your +uncle or mother speak of a brother, who came over to America with them?" + +"Yes!" I answered, "I was named after him. They both cherish his +memory, and I know that Uncle Denis much blames himself for his conduct +towards him, and would give all he possesses to see him again." + +"Are you speaking the truth?" asked the hunter. + +"Indeed I am, why should I do otherwise?" I answered, a suspicion +rising in my mind of who he was. "Are you my Uncle Michael?" I asked, +looking in his face. "I am nearly certain that you are, and if so, I am +confident that my father and mother will rejoice if you will return to +them, and Lily too; she must be your daughter." + +In spite of my anxiety to get well, the winter snows had melted, and the +trees were once more budding before my long-lost uncle and I were able +to set forward on our journey. By means of Kluko he had taken care to +let my family know of my progress towards recovery, but strange as it +may appear, he had not informed them who he was, being anxious to do so, +I suspect, personally. Kluko had also taken charge of his bales of +skins and peltries; and the wigwam which had so long served as our abode +was left for the benefit of any person who might choose to take +possession of it. + +The hunter, for so I will still call him, was unusually nervous as we +approached "Smiling Valley." We were nearly in sight of the farm, when +we saw my father approaching. I threw myself from my horse and after +our first greetings were over, I introduced the hunter, as he had +desired me to do, as the person who had been the means of saving my +life. + +"Now go forward, Mike," he said, for so he had taken to call me; "your +friends at home will be longing to see you. I will follow with your +father." + +I bounded on, and was soon receiving the joyous welcomings of the loved +ones from whom I had been so long parted, while the Dominie almost wrung +my hand off, as he congratulated me on my return. Uncle Denis had been +absent shooting, but he at that moment came in. I was burning to tell +them who the stranger was, but having been forbidden to do so, I +restrained myself. In a short time, however, my father and his +companion arrived. Uncle Denis gazed at the latter for a few seconds. + +"Michael!" he exclaimed, and the two brothers rushed in each other's +arms. + +Kathleen and Lily were standing by. Uncle Michael turned from his +brother, and gazed at Lily: he advanced towards her. + +"I am not mistaken!" he said; "come to my arms, my child; I thought you +lost with your poor mother, or I should have searched the world over for +you. Do not be alarmed, I will not take you from those who have +cherished you so lovingly." + +Lily returned her new-found father's embrace, but it was some time +before she could recover from her astonishment, which was still further +increased on finding that he was our Uncle Michael of whom she had so +often heard. My father now took him in to see my mother, who was not +yet well enough to come out of doors. Dio quickly made his appearance, +and showed his joy at my return by bursting into tears as he exclaimed-- + +"Dis nigger just 'bout de happiest man in de 'ole world." + +I did not fail to inform my father of the coolness and bravery the black +had displayed in overcoming his desire to remain with me, and making his +way to the fort for the sake of bringing assistance to my mother. + +It was not the last time that Dio rendered us essential service, as he +ever remained faithfully attached to my father and family. + +My two uncles were not only reconciled, but became as affectionate as +brothers should be, and before long set off for the settlements, from +whence they returned with two suitable wives, who proved admirable +helpmates to them, and kind aunts to us. + +Lily ere long became my wife, by which time, thanks to my father's +assistance, I had a house and farm of my own. + +The Dominie, to our great surprise, soon after the arrival of Uncle +Michael took his departure. + +"You'll see me again," he said, with a knowing smile: and so we did, but +he did not come back alone; he was accompanied by a curious specimen of +woman-kind, at least so we thought her at first, but she proved of +sterling worth, and made the Dominie an excellent wife and became the +mother of several sturdy sons and daughters. + +Other settlers pitched their tents in the neighbourhood of Smiling +Valley, and at length a large and flourishing community was gathered +round us, well able to resist any attack which hostile Indians might +have made on the settlement. Most of the tribes in the vicinity +however, had long before buried the war-hatchet, and we and they dwelt +at peace. Years have passed away since the time of which I have been +speaking, but Lily and I often talk over the adventures of our younger +days, and, as we narrate them to our children, we lift up our hearts in +gratitude to Him who preserved us from all dangers and has showered so +many blessings on our heads. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +People often ask what is the moral of the tale. As far as my narrative +is concerned I did not write it with the idea of evolving a moral, but I +can say that, if it contains one, it is this: "Trust God--do your duty +in His sight, and leave all else to Him." + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of With Axe and Rifle, by W.H.G. 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